At least 12 people have been injured and 30 trapped after a bar in a popular Spanish holiday resort collapsed in the early hours of this morning. Nine of them had to be taken to hospital, including one customer with a broken leg, following the incident in San Vicente de la Sonsierra in La Rioja.
Collapse at Tempranillo Bar
There were about 50 people inside the Tempranillo Bar when the structure collapsed at 5.35am today. The bar had permission to open to 6am. Witnesses said between 25 and 30 of them were trapped by the falling debris and could not get out themselves because the exits were blocked by the rubble.
Shocking Civil Guard pictures and videos show the extent of the damage, with the ceiling totally collapsed onto the floor and bar. Neighbours said they heard a thunderous noise and were surprised that no-one had died.
Emergency response and injuries
The collapse started when the floor of the establishment gave way and then the roof structure. A wall of the adjoining house also collapsed. The property was empty at the time so there have been no personal injuries inside.
The Civil Guard and the Government delegation confirmed the emergency services attended to 12 people. Except for a man who had a possible leg fracture with an open wound, the rest of those affected suffered minor injuries. Nine people have been transferred to medical centres: six of them were evacuated by ambulance to the San Pedro Hospital in Logroño, two to the Haro Health Centre and an injured young man was transferred by a friend to the Jarrero health center itself. The other three injured people were discharged or assisted at the scene of the events.
Rescue operation and investigation
The bar was taking part in the Wine Fest bar route that is being held this weekend in the town. The emergency response operation deployed a medical team of nine professionals, four ambulances, a doctor and two Red Cross vehicles. Firefighting efforts involved ten personnel supported by two fire trucks, an all-terrain vehicle and three vans. A civil protection specialist and a K-9 unit dog also operated at the scene; after searching the debris, they confirmed that no one remained trapped beneath the ruins.
Building surveyors are set to assess the severe structural damage sustained by both the bar and the adjacent home. A local resident told the Diario LA RIOJA newspaper that she heard shouting during the night but, given that the Wine Fest was taking place, assumed it was just part of the festivities. "We never imagined something like this had happened. The important thing is that everyone is okay." The Civil Guard has opened the relevant proceedings to clarify the exact causes that have led to the structural collapse of the building.
