Two dead, two missing after hotel construction collapse in Madrid

October 08, 2025 / 10:47 AM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Spanish emergency services have recovered two bodies and are still searching for two missing workers after a building under construction collapsed near Madrid’s iconic Plaza Mayor on Tuesday. Several others sustained injuries, according to city officials.

How the collapse happened

Authorities said multiple floor slabs gave way, causing the structure to crash down into the basement. Francisco Martín Aguirre, the central government’s representative in Madrid, said the damage was “very severe” and that adjacent buildings are being evaluated for stability. Municipal police evacuated surrounding structures as a precaution.

Injuries and casualties

Initial reports estimated up to 10 injuries, though later updates confirmed three workers hurt, none seriously. Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida announced that two bodies—at least one of them male—had been found, while rescue teams continue searching for the remaining missing individuals.

Eyewitness accounts and scene details

Eyewitness Milagros García Benito, who works nearby, described hearing “an enormous explosion” that shattered windows and filled the street with thick white dust. Emergency crews quickly arrived, with firefighters, drones, and ambulances flooding the area as police cordoned off the site. Officials warned that the rescue operation could take days due to the amount of debris.

The building and its purpose

Authorities said the six-storey structure was a former office building undergoing conversion into a hotel, with renovation permits granted earlier this year. The total area covered approximately 6,745 square metres, according to Madrid’s land registry.