A building collapse in Marseille has left as many as 10 people trapped under rubble, according to French authorities. The collapse, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, is believed to have been caused by a "violent explosion," said Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan. Investigations are ongoing. Eighty individuals have already been evacuated, but removing the rubble has complicated rescue efforts, as firefighters must first put out the fire before accessing those trapped beneath.
Concerns about the safety of any buried survivors have also arisen due to the risk of endangerment by firefighting water. Approximately 30 surrounding buildings have also been evacuated, and an investigation into "unintentional injuries" has been opened by the Marseille prosecutor's office. Marseille has experienced similar incidents in the past, including the collapse of several buildings in the Noailles district in 2018, which killed at least four people.