A catastrophic roof collapse at a shopping mall has left at least three people dead and 79 others injured, according to local reports.
The tragedy occurred on Friday, February 21, at the Real Plaza shopping mall in Trujillo, north of the capital of Peru, Lima.
PEOPLE reports that the roof over the mall’s food court came crashing down at around 8:45PM local time, as dozens of families were eating inside, Sol TV and Malay Mail reported.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Fire department Commander Gelqui Gómez confirmed that the deceased included two men and one woman, according to América TV, cited by Malay Mail.
Among the injured are nine children - aged between 10 and 1 - as well as 11 patients in critical condition who are currently being treated at local hospitals, Trujillo Mayor Mario Reyna and Health Manager Aníbal Morillo told reporters at a press conference.
Authorities believe several people may still be trapped under the wreckage. Videos from the scene show emergency responders and rescue teams searching through the debris in a frantic effort to locate survivors.
One eyewitness described the terrifying moment the collapse occurred.
“There was a very loud noise and then a cloud of dust where the roof caved in,” a witness told Metro.
There are conflicting reports over the number of people confirmed dead, with the Metro reporting that six people have died in the tragedy. The Mirror adds that one of the deceased is a child.
Emergency Response and Criticism Over Delayed Reporting
Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez estimated that the collapsed roof covered an area between 700 to 800 square meters. He stressed the urgent need for heavy equipment to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts.
“We need hydraulic cranes to lift part of the roof that has not yet been removed because it is so heavy and to continue rescue operations for those who may be trapped,” he said, per Malay Mail.
The Regional Emergency Operations Centre has come under fire for a delayed response, as reports indicate the collapse was not officially reported until 30 minutes after it happened. There has also been criticism regarding the lack of sufficient machinery at the scene to aid in the rescue operation.
“We are coordinating the presence of rescue experts. The priority now is to save lives, and for that, we need the right machinery," Santiváñez said, per Metro.
Mall Issues Statement Amid Nationwide Closures
A spokesperson for Real Plaza issued a statement expressing condolences and pledging support to victims and their families.
“At Real Plaza, we deeply regret what happened at our shopping center in Trujillo and express our sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased,” the statement read. “Likewise, we express our absolute support to all their families and to the injured due to this unfortunate accident.”
The mall assured the public that it was working “in close coordination with the authorities” to assist in rescue efforts and investigations.
“We are committed to keeping families and the community informed, reaffirming our total willingness to assist those who need help at this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
Following the incident, all shopping malls across Peru were reportedly ordered to close.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
Our thoughts go out to ever person impacted by this tragedy.