Tragedy in Bari: a building collapses, a search for a 72-year-old woman under the rubble.

A dramatic collapse shocked the city of Bari yesterday evening. A five-story building on Via De Amicis suddenly collapsed, leaving behind a cloud of dust and a pile of debris. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for a 72-year-old woman who was in the building when it collapsed.

An announced tragedy?

The building had been declared unsafe by the Municipality already on February 24 of last year, following the discovery of a serious structural problem with a damaged central pillar. The authorities had ordered the evacuation and the owner had started consolidation work just a week ago. Despite the evacuation order, the elderly woman had not left her home on the fourth floor.

The collapse and the first aid

Shortly after sunset, a loud bang heralded the sudden collapse of the structure, which collapsed in on itself in a matter of moments. Dust enveloped the area, making the air unbreathable and sowing panic among residents. Some cars parked nearby were submerged by the rubble.

The Fire Department, the specialized units for mountain and speleological rescue, the Civil Protection and the 118 health personnel immediately intervened on site. The teams worked all night, also using a crane to remove debris and search for any survivors. The canine units and the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams, specialized in searching for people under the rubble, went into action.

The testimonials

Many witnesses recounted their dramatic experience. A passerby who was nearby at the time of the collapse said: “I was reaching my car when I heard a creaking sound. A moment later, everything collapsed. It was like a scene from a movie: dust everywhere, people screaming and running in every direction.” Another witness said he helped an elderly woman who had fallen to the ground to prevent her from being crushed by the fleeing crowd.

The displaced and the assistance of the Municipality

Due to the collapse and the risk of further collapse, the two adjacent buildings were evacuated. In total, about 80 people were forced to leave their homes. The Municipality set up a first reception point at the Carlo Del Prete school and offered hospitality in a city hotel to 14 people who had no alternative accommodation.

The mayor of Bari, Vito Leccese, followed the rescue operations closely, releasing statements on the tragedy: “The most important thing now is to do everything possible to verify and try to save anyone who is still under the rubble.”

Possible causes of the collapse

According to initial hypotheses, the structural failure could have been caused by the compromised central pillar, which had already been the subject of concern a year ago. The authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain any responsibilities and verify whether the consolidation works played a role in the collapse. The public prosecutor on duty at the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office, Carla Spagnuolo, is coordinating the investigation.

Institutional support

The President of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, guaranteed maximum support to the rescue operations: "The regional Civil Protection is available to provide everything necessary". The Nue 112 is also managing the reports to avoid overloading the operations centers of the Fire Brigade and 118.