“IT LOOKED LIKE A SCENE FROM BEIRUT....”

PALMA
AMONGST the over 50 residents evacuated from the disaster zone is the Bulletin editor Jason Moore and his family whose house is adjacent to the four-storey block which collapsed in the early hours of yesterday morning. Last night, they were spending a second night in alternative accommodation provided by the Balearic Government waiting for the green light to return to their home. This is his story: “It was 00.30 and I was sitting on the sofa. “Suddenly, there was an enormous bang and within minutes, members of the Local Police were knocking on the door and we just all ran out of the house. “Everywhere, the cars, the road, the pavements, it was all covered in a thick white dust...it was like a scene from Beirut. “The police began to move us all up the street as neighbours came rushing out of their homes carrying blankets and water. Everyone was asking ‘what happened? What caused it?' None of us could believe what had happened. “But, there was no panic. It is a very close-knit community and the community spirit really came through. “The emergency services and the police were also excellent. A rapid reaction police unit was at the scene within minutes followed by Local Police and the 112 emergency services. “They were absolutely brilliant. “Counsellors and psychologists were also on the scene very quickly helping the relatives of the victims and those trapped under the rubble. We've all been moved to a nearby hotel and President Antich visited the scene earlier and he made a point of talking to all of us affected individually. “The local authorities were quick to move and help and they're covering the costs of us staying in the hotel for at least another night,” Moore recounted yesterday afternoon in between regular meetings between the victims and the rescue and security services for updates on how the rescue operation is developing. “It's one of those things that you just never consider happening,” Moore added.