Rescue crews hunt for vacationers underneath Majorca membership that left 4 useless

Chaos has consumed Majorca, after four people died and 16 were injured when a nightclub and restaurant in Playa de Palma on Thursday night.

Around one hundred emergency responders raced to the scene of the incident, identified locally as a beach bar in the city called the Medusa Beach Club, which sits on Cartago Street. 

A terrace of the two-storey building is believed to have collapsed through ‘to the basement’ of the building, leaving only the façade still standing, according to local media. Video footage showed people crowding around the bar in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. 

As many as ten people are still believed to be trapped inside the rubble as desperate rescue operations continue, with psychology experts brought in to support victims traumatised by the horrific events.

The total number of injured is now believed to stand at 16 and not 21 as officials had previously stated or 27 as well-placed sources said earlier in the evening.

Local media reported the three women and one man made up the deceased, and that two of them worked at the club, which according to its Instagram page unveiled a new rooftop bar just a few days ago. 

A photo of the renovation was posted on Wednesday with the caption: ‘Totally different, New rooftop.’ 

The bar is understood to be popular with British and German tourists, although details on the identities of those affected remain scarce. The Foreign Office tonight told the Telegraph that there are no reports that British nationals were involved in the incident. 

A spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an incident in Palma, and there are currently no reports of British nationals having been involved. We remain in contact with the Spanish authorities.’  

The floor of the premises caved around 8:45pm local time (7:45 BST) on Thursday, according to Catalan news outlet Rac 1, claiming the floor had ‘collapsed to the basement’ with many customers and staff still inside.

Public television for the Balearic Islands, IB3, reported there were people dancing on a terrace that collapsed on top of another floor underneath – although this has not been officially confirmed. 

Residents have told how two storeys of restaurant and night club collapsed without warning at a popular night spot in Mallorca.

Tonight a fire brigade crane and rescue workers were going through rubble at the Medusa Beach Club. 

Emergency services finalising the search and rescue operations have told those witnessing them remain silent as crews continue their work.  

‘We ask you silence because we need silence to see if we hear someone,’ a police spokesperson told local radio. 

‘The terrace has come down, probably due to excessive weight,’ he said, adding that the causes are still being investigated.

One resident told MailOnline: ‘it’s terrible, two storeys collapsed and took everyone down with it.

‘There were local people and tourists there. God help them.’

Tourists watched in horror from the beach in darkness as rescue workers from the Spanish fire brigade sifted through the rubble.

Rescue teams lifted huge pieces of masonry and concrete from the ruins.

Restaurants and bars adjacent to the collapsed building were forced to close but others nearby continued to play loud music and serve drinks.

Neighbours said they heard a loud noise followed by screams coming from the venue as the building collapsed, La Vanguardia reported.

Santiago Aranda, walking his dog with his wife at the time of the collapse, told Spanish outlet COPE‘s La Linterna: ‘It’s one thing to watch television and another thing is this and being there… I don’t have words to describe it. It was an explosion, and we were in the street opposite.’

His voice trembling, he told how ‘some ran in the opposite direction and others towards the dust’ after the explosion.

Santiago told the outlet he stayed to help the wounded and ‘get people out’, assessing that ’90 per cent’ of those inside at the time were German, ‘because of the screams, the wailing and the crying’.

Emergency services have not yet shared the identities of all of the deceased, and have neither confirmed nor denied whether tourists were involved. 

But local media reported that one of the four people who have so far died following the collapse is Senegalese man Abdoulaye Diop.

Diop was a nightclub bouncer for Black Magic, a club just a three-minute walk away from Medusa. 

First analyses suggest one of the terraces of the building may have collapsed, dragging the rest of the property down in on itself, according to the outlet. 

Authorities were forced to call a crane company to help lift debris from the two-storey building with the extent of the casualties still unknown.

But there remain fears that efforts to remove the rubble could cause the remaining front of the building to topple back into itself.

Emergency services remained on the scene through dusk and into nightfall, working tirelessly to recover bodies and survivors, with seven so far reported to have been found in ‘critical condition’. 

At least seven fire engines were on site to assist rescue efforts, ladders lowered to provide access into the building.

And ambulance steamed towards the site, with local media reporting the carnage was given ‘absolute priority’. 

Authorities have also called on psychologists from the Official College of Psychology of the Balearic Islands to assist, as traumatised victims are pulled from the wreckage. 

The injured are currently being evacuated through the back of the restaurant, facing Trasimé Street, where they are being treated.

Others have been taken to local hospital centres in Majorca, according to La Vanguardia. 

Police sources have put the number of injured at at least 16. 

Local emergency services, writing on Twitter/X, reported shortly before 11pm BST that four people were confirmed to have died, seven were very seriously injured, and nine were seriously injured.

A spokesman for a regional emergency response coordination centre said: ‘We have activated an emergency response as a result of the collapse of the ceiling of a two-storey building in Avenida Cartago in Playa de Palma, where people are trapped.’

It was initially reported in Spain that a false ceiling could have collapsed, before being ruled out. 

Playa de Palma is the beach area lying to the east of the Majorcan capital. It is especially popular with British and German holidaymakers. Around 3.2 million Brits travel to Majorca each year.

Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Marga Prohens, president of the Balearic Islands, wrote on Twitter/X:  ‘Shocked by the information I received about the collapse of Platja de Palma. 

‘Sending all my affection and warmth to the families of the four people who lost their lives in this tragic incident and wishing the recovery of all the injured.

‘Thanks to all the emergency services that have moved to the scene and continue to work there.’ 

‘I am closely following the consequences of the terrible collapse that occurred on the beach of Palma,’ Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X.

Sanchez said he had spoken to local and regional authorities, adding the government is ready to help ‘with all the means and troops that are necessary.’

‘I want to send my condolences to the families of the deceased and my wish for a speedy recovery to the injured,’ he said.

The president of the opposition Popular Party Alberto Núñez Feijóo also expressed his condolences, writing on X: ‘From the Popular Party we send our condolences to the affected families and our support to the emergency teams that continue working.

Both the PP and PSOE of the Balearic Islands agreed to suspend political campaigns for the upcoming European elections, scheduled for tomorrow, out of respect.