20 people, including five children, evacuated after Ibiza building collapses

The Balearics was rocked by yet another building collapse yesterday, this time in Ibiza, where part of a block of apartments in Playa d´en Bossa gave way. Fortunately nobody was injured but some 20 people, including five children, staying in the main block had to be evacuated. The collapse of the fourth building in the last eight months happened at 8a.m. when the west section of the Edificio Barcelo building, a wing of shops, gave way. Nobody was in the vicinity of the building at the time but construction workers carrying out reformation work on the interior were about to start work. Had the structure given way later yesterday morning the consequences could have been fatal. The section hit by the collapse included the basement and ground floor and shock-waves were felt by the adjacent apartments. The property was built 25 years ago, according to Ibiza Council's planning department, and last night the cause of the collapse was not known. It was also unclear as to whether the property had the necessary building permission for the reformation work being carried out. Nevertheless a full investigation will be launched first thing tomorrow (Monday) morning. The Balearic Interior Minister, Josep Maria Costa, flew into Ibiza from Palma yesterday to inspect the damage himself and talk to local planning officials and the council.