Torre Annunziata Mayor
Vincenzo Ascione said Friday that seven people were missing,
including two children, after an apartment building collapsed in
the southern city near Naples.
"According to the information I have, two families are
missing," Ascione said.
"One is made up of the parents and two children. The other is
composed of three adults.
"In total seven people, although it is difficult to give
official news about the number of missing people at the moment.
"No one was living on the first two floors, which were
undergoing renovation work.
"The families lived on the third and fourth (floors)".
Rescuers are digging with their hands and dog units are being
deployed.
Torre Annunziata prosecutors have opened an investigation.
When asked if the collapse could have been caused by the
renovation work, Ascione replied: "we cannot say".
The mayor said the building was constructed between the 1950s
and 60s.
Eye witnesses said there was no explosion, just the noise of
the building collapsing.
A goods train was said to have passed by the building shortly
before the collapse.
Rail company RFI said the train's vibrations would not have
had an effect on the building's stability.
Services along a local rail has been suspended with rubble on
the tracks.
"We are witnessing unimaginable scenes, an inhuman tragedy,"
said Ascione.
"The rescue workers will not stop while it is possible to
bring people out alive".
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