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CostaBlancaPeople 2nd-8th October
House collapse in Orihuela Costa T
he house collapse that happened last Wednesday at 8am in Playa Flamenca has been the talk of the local community all week, and of course the main debate and point of speculation has been what caused the buildings to give way. Fire-fighters rescued two British men, both believed to be in their 60s, from the partially collapsed houses but there could have been more trapped if it hadn’t of been for the quick thinking actions of a local ambulance man. According to eye witnesses, the medic was collecting a housebound patient when he heard the rumble, saw the cracks starting to appear and so ran into the street and in English shouted for everyone to ´get out´.
The incident happened in Calle Limon, urbanisation Laguna III, directly opposite the Citrus Centre. And although there were four houses directly affected, a row of 15 properties were evacuated by the emergency services before they cordoned off the area. The incident was attended by Local Police and Guardia Civil who made one initial rescues prior to the arrival of firefighters from Torrevieja, Orihuela and Almoradí who were able to use a ladder to rescue a second man who was trapped upstairs. There was also a dog from the Elche canine unit which was briefly used to search for bodies. It is believed that at least eight of the houses are occupied. Luckily the two people rescued from
the rubble only had minor injuries and were transferred to the Torrevieja Hospital. One was in a state of shock and the other had bruising. Also quickly on the scene was the Mayor of Orihuela accompanied by the Councillors for Citizen Security, Emergencies, Social Welfare, Infrastructure Continued on page 6
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