Illegal terrace found in Palma building that collapsed, resulting in fatalities

The city council of Palma, Spain is gearing up to participate in court proceedings following the tragic collapse of a terrace at the Medusa Beach Club in Playa de Palma, which resulted in the death of four individuals and left 14 others injured.

During a press conference, Mayor Jaime Martínez revealed that the terrace did not have the necessary municipal activity license to accommodate customers. The city council will be providing reports from various municipal departments to the National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and will cooperate in any legal actions taken against those deemed responsible for the incident.

Preliminary findings by the Palma fire brigade suggest that the collapse was due to structural overloading caused by unauthorized renovation work and the presence of approximately 20 customers on the terrace at the time. While the ground floor and basement of the building had proper permits, the roof, which was being used as a terrace without authorization, was deemed unsafe during a previous inspection.

Enric Heredia, president of the Association of Structural Consultants, emphasized the importance of following proper procedures when making modifications to buildings. He stressed the need for a clear project plan, thorough monitoring of the work, and strict adherence to regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

As the investigation unfolds, the city council remains committed to seeking justice for the victims and ensuring that safety regulations are upheld to prevent similar incidents in the future.