Three survivors have been rescued from the wreckage of a collapsed three-story apartment building in the seaside suburb of Torre del Greco, near Naples, the Italian officials reported. The incident occurred on July 16, sparking a major rescue operation by Italy's national firefighters' corps.
Initially, firefighters reported pulling out two survivors from the rubble. However, later reports confirmed that a third survivor had also been rescued. Local officials stated that all individuals who were present in the building at the time of the collapse have been accounted for.
Luca Cari, a spokesperson for Italy's national firefighters' corps, stated, "As of now, there are no indications of people missing," indicating that the rescue operation had successfully located and evacuated all occupants. The mayor of Torre del Greco, Luigi Mennella, expressed his relief, calling the rescue "a miracle."
The collapsed building, estimated to be around 200 years old, housed 23 residents from five different families. The mayor mentioned that efforts were underway to provide temporary housing for the affected residents, as well as approximately 20 individuals living in nearby buildings.
Among those rescued was the owner of a nearby pizzeria, who coincidentally happened to be in front of the building when it collapsed. The survivors were taken to the hospital to receive treatment for fractures, while two passersby sustained minor injuries from debris and were treated at the scene.
The building was described as dilapidated, raising questions about its structural integrity. Italian news outlets highlighted that the Campania region, where the incident took place, has experienced cases of poorly maintained buildings in the past.
Rescue teams, assisted by search dogs trained to locate people in collapsed structures, utilized earth-moving equipment during their efforts. Police and firefighters diligently sifted through the rubble to ensure no one was left behind. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the building collapse.
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