Four people died after part of a six-storey building under construction collapsed on Tuesday, in Calle Hileras, central Madrid, authorities have confirmed.
Two bodies were found late on Tuesday at the site located between Calle Arenal and Calle Mayor, a popular tourist area, hours after the building partially collapsed.
Firefighters recovered the other two bodies in the early hours of Wednesday, Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said on X.
‘All our love and support go to their families, friends, and colleagues in this very difficult time,’ he added.
Emergency services said the victims included three men working at the site and a woman supervising the project. Spanish media reported the workers were from Mali, Guinea and Ecuador.
Emergency services from Samur-Protección Civil and city firefighters had been working at the scene near Plaza de Ópera on Tuesday early afternoon, trying to stabilise the structure and secure the surrounding area.
Initially it was reported that at least 10 others were injured after the construction collapsed, but this was later adjusted to three people injured, with one suffering a fractured leg.
The former office building was being reconverted into a hotel, with data on Madrid town hall’s website showing that a permit had been granted in February.
According to the land registry, the building had six storeys with a total surface area of 6,745 square metres.
Government delegate Francisco Martín said that debris fell from the fifth floor into the building’s interior courtyard.
The façade of the building remained standing and apparently stopped most of the debris from reaching the street, according to local reports. In Spain, older buildings are often completely renovated inside while the street-facing façades are maintained in their original form.
Police are investigating the incident as a workplace accident.
Officials who initially arrived at the scene included the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the government delegate Francisco Martín, deputy mayor Inmaculada Sanz, and Madrid’s urban planning chief, Borja Carabante.
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Lamentablemente confirmamos el fallecimiento de una de las cuatro personas atrapadas en el derrumbe de la calle Hileras y la localización de otro de los desaparecidos entre los escombros. Continúa la búsqueda de las otras dos personas.
Agradecemos a todos los servicios de… pic.twitter.com/mYcKUdT65D
— José Luis Martínez-Almeida (@AlmeidaPP_) October 7, 2025
El delegado del Gobierno en Madrid se ha trasladado a la zona del derrumbe del edificio en obras de la calle Hileras de Madrid para seguir de cerca las labores de rescate.
Los equipos de Bomberos, Policía Nacional, Policía Municipal y SAMUR-Protección Civil trabajan de forma… pic.twitter.com/4QlQHpEWCA
— Delegación del Gobierno en Madrid 🏛️ (@DGobiernoMadrid) October 7, 2025
Varias dotaciones de @BomberosMad trabajando en C/Hileras tras derrumbe de varios forjados en un edificio en obras.
Desplegado un dispositivo de @SAMUR_PC en la zona.@policiademadrid trabajan con los drones@policia colaborando pic.twitter.com/slTP129zT5
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) October 7, 2025
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