Naples, April 25 – A four-story disused building located in via Francesco Saverio Siniscalchi, between Duchesca and Porta Capuana, Naples, collapsed at 2:00 AM on Thursday. Despite initial fears that the building, known to be frequented by homeless people and irregular immigrants, might have trapped individuals, searches by firefighters and residents confirmed no casualties.
Immediate Response and Evacuations
The collapse, described by residents as a sudden roar, prompted an immediate and extensive search operation. Firefighters, utilizing photoelectric cells during the night and continuing their efforts into daylight, confirmed by mid-morning that no one was involved in the collapse. This news brought a sigh of relief to the community.
As a precautionary measure, gas and water supplies were suspended in the entire area. Several buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure, housing numerous families, were also evacuated by firefighters and police officers. The Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, along with Prefect Michele di Bari and councilors Edoardo Cosenza and Antonio De Iesu, arrived at the scene on Thursday morning to assess the situation. The Civil Protection set up a tent nearby to assist the displaced families.
Causes Under Investigation and Political Reactions
The collapsed building was privately owned and had been declared unsafe for years due to structural instability, which may have led to the collapse. However, firefighters are maintaining caution regarding the exact cause, pending further investigation.
The immediate emergency focuses on the evacuated families, who are awaiting the results of technical inspections on their properties. This operation is expected to continue throughout the day to prevent further risks. The Municipality of Naples announced around noon the exact number of families requiring support: approximately 12 people from 6 homes at civic number 89 in Piazza De Nicola, around 30 non-EU citizens at civic number 95, and a Tunisian family with two minors (a 5-month-old infant and a 4-year-old child) at civic number 98. Two families were evacuated from civic number 20 in via Siniscalchi, about 10 people from civic number 52 on Corso Maddalena, and two families from civic number 15 in Vico Dattero.
The incident has also sparked political debate. Iris Savastano, city secretary of Forza Italia Naples, stated, “The collapse of the building in via Siniscalchi, in Porta Capuana, is not an accident but a foreseen wound. It is the result of years of neglect, of unanswered reports, of a degradation that is known and tolerated until it becomes an emergency.” She added that the building, though closed, was subject to illegal occupations in a delicate area of the city. Francesco Emilio Borrelli, deputy of Avs, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the building’s danger had been known for years and calling for immediate clarification on responsibilities, including identifying the owner and why necessary consolidation works were not carried out despite warnings.
Mayor Manfredi has requested an urgent meeting with the prefect to address the emergency and its broader implications.
