Two buildings have collapsed in the city of Marseille on the southern coast of France, according to local authorities. The tragedy has left at least two people injured, according to AFP.
The administration of Bouches-du-Rhône, the department in which the city is located, has tweeted photos of the destroyed buildings.
63 Rue d'Aubagne — Les Marins-Pompiers à l'action: "Monsieur Monsieur! Vous êtes où qu'on vienne vous chercher!" #Marseille pic.twitter.com/4rNhwyAX5j
— David Coquille (@DavidLaMars) 5 ноября 2018 г.
The five-story residential buildings, located on Rue d'Aubagne, collapsed at around 9:00 a.m. local time (8:00 GMT). The national police have advised local residents to avoid the area.
🔴 URGENT — Effondrement d'un immeuble rue d'Aubagne à #Marseille. Aucune information sur de potentielles victimes. @Prefet13 ouvre immédiatement une cellule de suivi à la préfecture avec @prefpolice13 et @MarinsPompiers
— Préfet de la région PACA et des Bouches-du-Rhône (@Prefet13) 5 ноября 2018 г.
Évitez le secteur! Priorité aux secours! pic.twitter.com/lllhHWStJM
According to France Info, a local news portal, the residential buildings at 63 and 65 Rue d'Aubagne shared a common wall.
The building was in poor repair and had been ordered evacuated, according to Marseille Mayor Sabine Bernasconi.
— David Coquille (@DavidLaMars) 5 ноября 2018 г.
One of the buildings was in disrepair; its residents had been evicted. However, French media reported that there could be squatters living there.
Sad news of a building collapse in central #marseille this morning — The building has been empty with wooden braces in the window for years — I’ve walked past frequently and often wondered if it was safe — hope no one is hurt pic.twitter.com/TxbdxPFq5S
— Dr Joseph Downing (@JosephDowning1) 5 ноября 2018 г.
An amateur video broadcast on BFM-TC showed clouds of dust in the street where the buildings are located.
BFMTV "Les images après les effondrements de deux immeubles en plein centre-ville de Marseille pic.twitter.com/LUy2FbMqyk"
— Widowild (@widowild) 5 ноября 2018 г.
Rue d'Aubagne, l'immeuble est complètement tombé… De premiers témoins indiquent qu'il était habité pic.twitter.com/B4HJe2fxNv
— JM Leforestier (@jmleforestier) 5 ноября 2018 г.