BRITONS SURVIVE HOUSE COLLAPSE
Eight properties will have to be demolished says local council
TWO BRITISH men aged 58 and 60, had to be rescued as an upstairs apartment in a twostorey block of eight homes came crashing down on the one below on Wednesday morning.
The residential building partially collapsed without warning at about 08.50 on Laguna III Urbanisation in Orihuela Costa. Incredibly, neither of the two men were seriously injured.
The man living downstairs suffered extensive, heavy bruising, a friend of his told Costa Blanca News, and was still being monitored in Torrevieja hospital yesterday (Thursday) morning due to concern over a pre-existing condition.
The local police responded first and within 20 minutes were trying to get him out before the building gave way any further and crushed him.
A neighbour said at first they were unable to gain entry because they could not open the security grills and had to resort to using crowbars so he could escape.
Fire fighters quickly joined in with the efforts, numerous Guardia Civil came to the scene, and electricity and gas company workers were also called in.
The whole area was cordoned off and 15 homes in the urbanisation were evacuated as a precaution, including several others near the affected block.
One resident explained they were told to grab their passports and get out, before spending hours nervously watching what might become of their homes and belongings inside.
The other resident who was rescued was unharmed but could not leave his upstairs apartment, which had tipped over to almost a 45 degree angle, because the staircase had collapsed.
Fire fighters had to bring in a cherry-picker crane to rescue him and he was also taken to hospital in a state of shock, but discharged later that day.
However, Orihuela town hall told Costa Blanca News yesterday that all eight properties on the block have to be demolished.
“They all share the same framework, which has been seriously damaged and cannot be repaired,” explained councillor for international residents Sofía Álvarez.
“The demolition work will take some time to be arranged, as comprehensive architects’ and engineers’ reports are needed, a specific procedure must be followed and specific safety measures have to be taken.”
She pointed out that three British homeowners from the block – a couple living next door to the collapsed apartments and the man upstairs who was rescued - were put up in a hotel in Orihuela Costa by the council.
Sra Álvarez could not say whether they or the man in hospital will be allowed to retrieve any belongings from their homes due to the high risk of collapse.
The other evacuated homeowners were allowed back to collect some items later on Wednesday.
She noted that home insurance policies are legally required to provide 10 days of accommodation but otherwise the town hall will manage this.
Any compensation would be paid from whoever is found liable when the report on the cause of the collapse has been finished.
A council source told Costa Blanca News that engineers were considering several theories, including alleged illegal refurbishment works on one of the ground floor apartments.
“One of the options is that a key part of the framework was removed or seriously damaged,” the source said.
The friend of the man downstairs said that only decorative work had been carried out there since he moved in in December.
He noted that there were already cracks on the building exterior, which he had thought were superficial.
Neighbours also speculated whether earthquakes may have weakened the structure and several claimed the building had been constructed about 15 years ago on land which was originally dug out for a swimming pool but filled in again.
Opposition parties CLARO and Cambiemos both flagged up the ‘uncontrolled urban development’ that has been tolerated by the council in Orihuela Costa over three decades.
Councillor for emergencies Víctor Valverde thanked the local police, Guardia Civil, fire fighters and emergency services for their quick response.
“The local police officers put their lives at risk by getting into one of the properties to rescue one of the victims,” he noted.