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Hunt for survivors of Majorca building collapse

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A desperate search for survivors is underway after a two-storey restaurant collapsed on Majorca, killing four people and injuring 16, according to local emergency services. Several individuals are believed to be trapped under the debris at the Medusa Beach Club, a popular beachside restaurant in Palma de Majorca, the regional capital.

Among the victims are a Spanish man, two German women, and Abdoulaye Diop, a Senegalese man known for rescuing a swimmer in 2017. The collapse occurred around 20:30 local time (19:30 BST) on Thursday, causing people to fall into the basement where other patrons and staff were present.

Authorities attribute the collapse to the terrace giving way due to “excessive weight,” although investigations are ongoing. Emergency workers are urging for silence to hear potential survivors. A firefighter described the scene as “nightmarish,” with people crying and screaming amid the rubble.

Raúl Pursnami, owner of Moda Meena, a nearby fashion store, witnessed the event and expressed his shock. Diop, 44, had just left a gym and was having coffee at the restaurant when it collapsed, according to friends. In 2017, Diop was celebrated for rescuing a struggling swimmer in Playa de Palma despite freezing water temperatures.

Psychology experts have been called to help those traumatized by the incident. The UK Foreign Office stated that there are no reports of British nationals involved, though they remain in contact with Spanish authorities. A man was rescued from the rubble with a broken arm, and efforts continue under the assumption more people are trapped.

The Palma City Council has declared three days of mourning. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Balearic Islands President Marga Prohens sent condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude to the emergency services. Majorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, saw over 17 million visitors last year.

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Seven dead after bus falls into river in St Petersburg

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A tragic incident unfolded in St. Petersburg, where a bus careened off the Potseluev Bridge into the Moika River, resulting in the loss of seven lives. The accident, which occurred in the city center on Friday afternoon, was captured on footage showing the bus swerving into oncoming traffic, colliding with two cars, and then plunging into the waterway, sinking within moments.

Authorities swiftly responded to the scene, detaining the bus driver and launching a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Initial reports indicated several critical injuries and two individuals in serious condition among the estimated 20 passengers onboard. Tragically, despite rescue efforts, three individuals lost their lives shortly after being retrieved from the submerged bus.

The heroic actions of bystanders, including Idris Gadzhiev, Shahban Jabrailov, and Muhammad Hasanov, who courageously leaped into the river to assist in rescue efforts, underscored the community’s solidarity in the face of tragedy. Meanwhile, emergency services deployed heavy machinery to lift the sunken bus from the river, bringing an end to the rescue operation.

The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of road safety measures, occurring as the bus turned onto the bridge from Bolshaya Morskaya Street, a bustling area approximately 1.5 kilometers from the renowned Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg’s historic center.

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Serbian rescue for livestock trapped on island in Danube

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An operation is in progress to rescue around 200 cattle, calves, and horses stranded on Krcedin island in the River Danube, near Belgrade, Serbia. Rising water levels last week prevented the livestock from returning to shore. The evacuation, which began on Tuesday, has saved approximately 60 animals so far. Harsh weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and concerns about starvation, have intensified the urgency of the rescue mission.

Krcedin island, located on the left bank of the Danube, experienced a sudden rise in water levels due to melting snow caused by unseasonably mild weather in late 2023 in the Balkan region. The island is situated 3km from the shore and approximately 50km upstream from Belgrade.

Farmers had been appealing for days to have their livestock rescued as conditions deteriorated. On Tuesday, a rescue team comprising the Serbian military, the emergencies department, the forestry agency, and local citizens used a raft to transfer about 60 animals to safety. However, further attempts faced setbacks, including the replacement of the first raft due to missing railings and the breakdown of its replacement after only two runs.

Environmental group Eko Straza reported that the stranded cattle were exhausted, having lost up to 50kg of their weight. A new boat was hired to continue the rescue on Wednesday. Transporting dozens of wild horses, which are not accustomed to human contact, posed additional challenges.

With freezing conditions and the threat of hunger, speed has become crucial in the evacuation. Cattle breeder Milenko Plavsic expressed concern that some of his animals had already died, and the remaining ones were at risk. He explained that, in a normal year, the animals would return home by wading through shallow waters for 10km, but the high water levels have prevented grazing.

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Swedish snow chaos leaves 1,000 vehicles trapped on main E22 road

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Over 1,000 individuals who found themselves trapped in heavy snow for more than 24 hours on the main E22 road in southern Sweden have been successfully evacuated, as announced by Swedish authorities. The rescue operation involved a coordinated effort of snow ploughs and emergency teams working through the night to free people stranded in their vehicles.

The travel chaos unfolded against the backdrop of plummeting winter temperatures across the Nordic countries, affecting Sweden, Finland, and Norway. In Denmark, snowstorms led to drivers being stranded on a motorway near Aarhus since Wednesday. The severity of the weather was exemplified by the Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka weather station in northern Sweden, which recorded its coldest night in 25 years with temperatures plummeting to -43.6°C.

The disruption on the main E22 began around 09:00 local time on Wednesday when heavy snow made the road impassable in both directions between Horby and Kristianstad. Hundreds of cars came to a standstill in snowdrifts, leading to what police spokesperson Evelina Olsson described as “total chaos.”

Rescue efforts persisted throughout the night, with the army mobilized to deliver food and water to those stranded. While all individuals traveling by car were successfully evacuated, by Thursday morning, only lorry drivers remained in their vehicles.

Conditions were gradually improving on Thursday morning, with many cars cleared from the road. However, authorities cautioned that the road would not be fully cleared until 08:00 on Friday at the earliest. Meanwhile, buses and trains were canceled in the Skane region, and authorities urged people to avoid non-essential travel during this period of severe winter weather.

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Fire in Vacation Residence in France Leaves Eleven Feared Dead

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A fire erupted at a vacation residence in La Forge, France, where individuals with learning disabilities were staying, resulting in the disappearance of eleven people. The blaze was reported to emergency services at 06:30 local time on Wednesday and was met with a response from nearly 80 firefighters.

Regrettably, the 11 missing individuals are now presumed to have lost their lives, as stated by a local official to AFP news agency. The property was utilized by a charity dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities. While 17 occupants were evacuated and one person was hospitalized, the cause of the fire remains unclear.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin affirmed an ongoing rescue operation, acknowledging the likelihood of multiple casualties in the town near Wintzenheim, close to the German border. The group of 11 missing people originated from Nancy, in eastern France, according to the Haut-Rhin region’s local government. Despite the fire’s intensity, it was successfully controlled by 76 firefighters and four fire engines.

The Bas-Rhin prefecture’s leader, Christophe Marot, revealed that those inside the building during the fire’s outbreak have not yet been located. The incident led French President Emmanuel Macron to express his condolences and appreciation for the emergency services. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and families minister Aurore Bergé are en route to the scene.

Visuals from local media depict the holiday home, a converted barn, engulfed in flames. Firefighters managed to subdue the fire after approximately two-thirds of the building was consumed by the blaze.

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