Estimated reading time: 6 minute(s)
Sodiq Mojibola
Two days after a deadly building collapse in Marseille, France, rescuers are still searching for two missing individuals amidst the rubble
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The four-storey apartment block was destroyed in an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, shaking the whole Camas neighborhood, a few hundred meters from Marseille’s historic old port.
So far, the remains of six people have been recovered from the scene, including five women and three men, with ages ranging from 29 to 89.
“It would be a miracle to find any survivors but we have faith,” said Father Olivier, a priest, during a prayer vigil at the nearby Saint Michel church on Monday.
Police forensics experts are currently working to identify the bodies that have been retrieved so far.
Many witnesses have recalled smelling gas around the time of the explosion, and authorities are investigating possible causes for the blast.
“As well as 22 forensics officers, 18 detectives are on the scene sifting for evidence. Authorities are yet to give any preferred theory of what happened,” reported a fire service spokesman on the scene.
Meanwhile, approximately 200 people who were evacuated from the neighborhood are facing an uncertain wait before they can return to their homes.
One building adjacent to the collapsed block has also largely collapsed, while the structure on the other side has been weakened and is at risk of falling as well.
Other houses on the street may have suffered less visible damage and may need to be torn down, according to Yannick Ohanessian, Marseille’s deputy mayor for security.
Some residents were allowed to briefly return on Tuesday to retrieve vital items from their homes, given just a few minutes to choose between important papers, clothes, medicines, or other necessities.
“The worst thing is not knowing how long it’s going to be. I’m most worried not to know where I’ll be living, whether I’ll need to find a new apartment,” said Alhil Villalba, one of the affected residents, expressing concern about the uncertain future.
As investigators work to determine the cause of the building collapse, the search for the missing individuals continues, and the affected residents are left grappling with the aftermath of the tragic incident.
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