A two-storey building collapsed in Messina, Italy, on Thursday, leaving one person dead and five others missing. Emergency teams recovered the body of a local businessman from the rubble of the structure, which contained both residential apartments and ground-floor businesses.
Firefighters are searching for the five missing people, including relatives of the confirmed victim and a shop assistant. While the search remains active, authorities are facing difficult conditions as they work to clear debris. The threat of trapped flammable gas complicates these efforts, as potential leaks pose an explosion risk if exposed to oxygen.
Local officials ruled out an initial theory that a gas explosion caused the incident. Witnesses reported that the building shook shortly before the collapse, pointing toward a possible structural failure. Investigations into the exact cause are currently underway.
Three individuals were injured during the collapse. One survivor described the harrowing moments inside as the building came down, stating they were trapped in dust and struggled to breathe before being pulled out. Rescue workers continue to use specialized equipment to track mobile phone signals in hopes of finding the remaining missing people.