Another missing person

Two dead in construction site collapse in Florence

(Bild: APA/AFP/Vigili del Fuoco/Handout)

Four workers were killed on Friday when an attic floor collapsed on a building site for the construction of a supermarket in Florence. Two workers were rescued alive from the rubble and are in a critical condition in hospital. However, there is no danger to life.

Another man was still missing. He could be under one of the fallen pillars, as the rescue teams reported. 

Fourth body recovered during the night
The fourth body was recovered on Saturday night. The dead are a 60-year-old Italian and three workers of North African origin. The three injured were from Romania, according to the emergency services.

Firefighters on duty at the construction site(Bild: APA/AFP/Vigili del Fuoco/Handout)

Dog teams are deployed in the search for the missing man. According to the rescue units, one of the large load-bearing beams of the roof collapsed along with the top floor. A supermarket was to be built at the site of the accident.

"Heard the cries of the workers"
"I was at home taking a shower. I heard a bang and ran outside to check. You could hear the screams of the workers calling for help," reported a witness. 

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences to the families of the victims. "I am following the development of the situation with concern and thank all those involved in the search for the missing and in the rescue operations for the injured. Our deepest condolences go to the families affected by this terrible tragedy," Meloni wrote on the X platform. The government promised more checks on the safety of construction sites.

Day of mourning declared
The mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, who is currently in Israel and Palestine, expressed his shock. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. On my own behalf and on behalf of the city of Florence, I offer my condolences to the victims and thank all the rescue workers who were deployed", wrote the mayor (see above). A day of mourning has been declared in Florence on Saturday, with a minute's silence planned at 3pm.