Terrifying second historic fort in Spain collapses in entrance of shocked vacationers
The terrifying moment that a historic castle crumbled to the ground left tourists and onlookers shocked as a cloud of dust and debris covered the surrounding area.
Part of the fortress at Escalona Castle, which is visible from the outside of the site, collapsed on Saturday morning in Spain.
The moment was captured on camera, and video taken at the scene shows chunks of stone and other debris flying everywhere, crashing down in front of shocked onlookers.
Cars parked nearby were also damaged by the tumbling debris, which cascaded down from the tower as it fell.
The video shows clouds of dust settling around the vehicles – but no one was reported to be injured.
The terrifying scenario took place at the 15th-century fortress and palace in Toledo, Spain.
The moment that the historic castle collapsed in front of stunned tourists
Onlookers were left stunned, amid debris and dust everywhere
In the video, tourists can be heard screaming and shouting as the castle walls tumble to the ground.
Distressed visitors move away from the scene, with children in tow.
The castle is a large fortified palace with a church inside, built in the 15th century on the site of an old Medieval fortress.
It was heavily involved in Spanish history, operating as a strategic point during Castilian conflicts.
Civil Guard officers and Town Hall officials were called to the scene, and the area was cordoned off to be examined – and it is thought recent heavy rainfall in the area may have worsened structural weaknesses at the site.
Tourist activity on the site has been temporarily postponed.
Escalona Castle is a popular site in the region, with one recent Tripadvisor review reading: ‘If it had not been acquired by a private individual in the 1970s, when only part of a facade and walls remained standing and was rebuilt for use as a second home, there would surely be nothing to visit today.’
Vehicles were parked next to the historic castle when it tumbled down
Another added: ‘The Castle is very deteriorated but the remaining parts realize how great and well located it was, at the foot of the Hostel. The village is worth a visit, has heritage, and atmosphere of bars.’
A third describes it as a ‘beautiful ruin’.
It’s not the first historic monument to come tumbling down in recent times.
A medieval tower under renovation in central Rome collapsed in November last year, leaving a builder seriously injured and another trapped under the rubble.
Dramatic footage showed the moment part of the Torre dei Conti tower, which is located near to Rome’s Colosseum, collapsed in front of tourists.
Stunned onlookers could be seen backing away from the building as it became engulfed by clouds of dust, while the sound of collapsing masonry could also be heard.
Regional President Francesco Rocca, speaking to Italian news agencies, said one worker who was rushed to hospital was not in a life-threatening condition, while two more workers suffered minor injuries and declined hospital treatment.
The 95ft tower suffered at least two collapses, according to videos posted on social media.
The second incident took place while firefighters were working on the structure with aerial ladders during a rescue attempt.
