France: Building collapses in central Marseille
Le Monde.frApr 09, 2023
The death toll from a collapse of a residential building in the southern French city of Marseille on April 9 has risen to eight, as rescue teams found the bodies of the last two missing people on Wednesday.
French authorities opened an investigation to find the cause of the explosion of the four-story apartment building as hundreds of rescuers continued searching the rubble four days after the blast.
Very sadly, France has learned nothing from the 2018 disaster. Housing standards in Marseille have stayed the same as 40K residents continue to live in shoddy structures. The latest collapse casts a harsh light on the city's poorly-built homes.
It's too early to jump to conclusions. Potential factors could include faulty wiring, criminal intent, or gas leak. The nation is in mourning right now, and the focus must remain on helping survivors and relocating the displaced residents instead of casting blame. Due process will ultimately yield the truth.