The bar-restaurant where four people, including two tourists, died on Thursday in Palma de Mallorca, in the Spanish Balearic archipelago, did not have a license to open the roof terrace which collapsed, the mayor said on Tuesday from the city.
“I can confirm, based on reports» available, that the establishment did not have «activity license or authorization to occupy the terrace» located on the first floor which collapsed, said Jaime Martínez Llabrés during a press conference in Palma.
No building permit
According to Jaime Martínez Llabrés, no building permit had been filed for this roof terrace, which had nevertheless been the subject of work with the recent addition of a mortar screed – which resulted in a “overweight» of the structure, according to the authorities.
“The collapse of the terrace“, in view of the first elements of the investigation, was thus provoked by “the combination of excess weight due to the work carried out and the overload linked to an influx of people» on this structure located on the first floor of the building, continued the mayor of Palma.
Two young German tourists, as well as a Senegalese man and a Spanish employee died Thursday evening in the collapse of this establishment located on the seafront of Palma de Mallorca, where the tourist season is already in full swing. Sixteen people were also injured in this accident, including tourists of Dutch and German nationality. According to Jaime Martínez Llabrés, only one of these injured is currently still hospitalized.
Second most tourist region in Spain
The building that collapsed included a bar-restaurant on the first floor and ground floor, the Medusa Beach Club, and a basement bar, the CocoRico. The place was very busy at the time of the tragedy.
The archipelago, located in the Mediterranean Sea and known for its crystal clear waters and heavenly beaches, is the second most touristy region in Spain after Catalonia. In 2023, it welcomed more than 14 million foreign tourists, according to official figures.
