An abandoned building at 22 Granada Street in Badalona collapsed on Thursday, 23 April, at 20:45, forcing 35 residents from adjacent properties to evacuate. Emergency services confirmed no injuries resulted from the incident.
The 112 emergency telephone service received the alert about the collapse. Authorities evacuated residents from 20 and 24 Granada Street, and 51 Liszt Street, as a precaution.
Seven crews from the Fire Service of the Generalitat (Bombers de la Generalitat) responded to the scene. Firefighters used a thermal camera to check inside the collapsed block for any occupants. Drones also conducted an aerial reconnaissance to assess the site's condition.
Preventative demolitions of the most unstable parts of the building followed. This action aimed to prevent future collapses affecting other nearby blocks.
Residents Evacuated and Supported
Badalona Mayor Xavier Garcia Albiol confirmed the total number of affected individuals. "In total there are 35 people affected," Mayor Albiol stated. He added that "eleven have been able to spend the night in relatives' homes and 24 have been attended to by the Badalona Social Emergency and Urgency Centre."
The incident caused significant disruption for residents in the affected area of Badalona. This city borders Barcelona and has a population of over 220,000. Although the adjacent buildings suffered no structural damage, authorities decided residents should stay elsewhere overnight. This decision prioritised safety for those living next to the unstable structure.
Prior Demolition Order
The Badalona City Council had previously inspected the property. On 24 March, the council began proceedings to demolish the building subsidiarily. This means the council would carry out the demolition if the owner failed to do so. The building already had an existing demolition order.
Authorities will continue to monitor the site and ensure the full demolition proceeds safely. The Badalona Social Emergency and Urgency Centre will also continue to support affected residents.
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Originally published by El Caso (El Nacional). Read original article.
