Ten injured as part of building collapses

A young child was airlifted to Son Dureta hospital in Palma yesterday after the corniche of a building in the centre of Mahon, Minorca, collapsed along with an industrial iron ladder up the side of the property. The accident happened at 11a.m. and chief of Mahon Local Police, Rafael Lesenne, confirmed that a total of eight people needed to be treated for injuries at Verge del Toro hospital while two others were treated at the scene. The most seriously injured was the young girl who was apparently hit by brickwork which fell from the top floor of the building in Carrer Nou de Maó, which was still closed to traffic last night. She was evacuated to Palma so doctors could assess the extent of her injuries. According to the 112 emergency service, fortunately, the first floor balcony caught most of the falling bricks and rubble. Police said yesterday that the incident had also brought part of the top floor roof down as well, but that collapsed on the inside of the property, which was undergoing renovation work. Lessene was quick to point out that the building work has all the necessary licences and that all the required health and safety requirements have been complied with. Local Police, Civil Protection, 061 medical service units and the fire brigade rushed to the scene and the clean up operation continued well into the afternoon while structural engineers inspected the building to make sure that it was safe. All of the injured were passers by, including an ONCE lottery coupon salesman who was only slightly injured. Medical sources said last night that, apart from the young child, none of the injured treated by hospital staff had suffered serious injuries and all had responded well to treatment. The incident has however stunned the neighbourhood and a handful of people were treated during the afternoon for the effects of shock. Mahon Council will be launching a full investigation into the incident.