Shopping mall roof collapses, more than 80 injured, 6 unfortunate people died

Recently, the collapse of the roof of a shopping mall has caused a stir, in which about 80 people were injured and 3 people died. In addition, a number of missing people are still being searched for.

The Peruvian government is facing a major tragedy after the roof of the Real Plaza shopping mall in the city of Trujillo collapsed, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more. Defense Minister Walter Astudillo confirmed the news on February 22, stressing that this was an initial figure and could continue to rise.

"According to unofficial information from the La Libertad fire department commander, there are now six dead, five at the scene and one in hospital," Astudillo said at a press conference at the mall. He added that 78 people were injured in the roof collapse, of whom 30 have been discharged, while 48 are still being treated in hospital, including three in critical condition. Four people are still trapped under the rubble, according to fire department commander Luis Fernando Roncal. Rescue efforts are facing challenges due to the scale of the tragedy and the complex conditions at the scene.

The tragedy occurred overnight at the Real Plaza shopping mall in the city of Trujillo, about 600km north of Lima, as dozens of people gathered at the scene, authorities said. "More than 200 police and firefighters are conducting the search. So far, three people have died," the interior ministry said on social media, along with a video showing a police officer rescuing one of the trapped people.

Interior Minister Juan José Santivanez estimated the area of the collapsed roof at 700-800 square meters. He announced that a hydraulic crane would be used to lift the part of the roof that was still hanging, continuing rescue efforts to free people who may still be trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts were also hampered by the alarming fact that at the time of the tragedy, bars and nightclubs near the mall were still operating and refused to turn off the music, making it difficult for rescuers to hear the cries for help of those trapped. "There needs to be silence so that firefighters can hear even the slightest cry for help, so that they can locate and rescue those trapped. However, in these conditions, rescue work becomes extremely difficult," Inspector Gelqui Gómez of the Peruvian Volunteer Fire Department told RPP radio.

All shopping malls in Peru have been closed following the roof collapse and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. The cause of the roof collapse is still unclear. Trujillo Mayor Mario Reyna said that harsh weather conditions, heavy rains and accumulated humidity may have contributed to the incident. However, it is worth noting that on December 29, 2023, the Trujillo City Government ordered the mall to close due to serious structural defects. This decision was met with much opposition from politicians and business associations at the time.

Despite warnings from authorities, Real Plaza maintained that the defects cited were not “imminent danger” and were not enough to close the mall. Remarkably, just a week later, on January 4, 2024, Real Plaza Trujillo reopened, claiming that the infrastructure was “in perfect condition.” This claim was now in big question when the tragedy actually occurred.

Real Plaza Trujillo is known to be the largest shopping mall in Peru outside of Lima, with an area of up to 220,000 square meters. Not only is it a shopping destination, it is also considered a safe haven for locals in the context of Trujillo being in a state of emergency due to a wave of increased crime in recent months.

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