Identities clarified

Ceiling collapsed: Two construction workers trapped

The operation was in full swing on Tuesday morning.

(Bild: Scharinger Daniel)

A terrible accident in Schärding (Upper Austria): Two construction workers were apparently buried under the rubble there on Tuesday morning during conversion work on an old building. As the building is in serious danger of collapsing, the emergency services are unable to enter it. The workers are said to be two 23-year-olds.

Seven fire departments, police, rescue services, emergency doctors, a crisis intervention team and the Red Cross search dog team were alerted to Schärding on Tuesday morning. According to the Schärding fire department, a ceiling measuring around 20 square meters collapsed during renovation work on an old, listed building and buried two construction workers underneath it. One person was able to escape just in time.

Risk of building collapse
The search for the two buried victims is running at full speed. At first, massive dust formation is likely to have made the operation more difficult. Then the search for the missing persons had to be interrupted by the fire department, according to "Krone" information, because the building was apparently in acute danger of collapsing. Later that morning, the house was inspected by a structural engineer - during which time the search was suspended for safety reasons.

But: "As long as there is hope, we will continue to work", says Herbert Kirchberger, Deputy District Commander of the police.

It is currently not possible to enter the site. The chance of survival is very, very slim.

Markus Furtner, Feuerwehr Schärding

Localization through sound
"We are doing everything we can. At the moment, we can only carry out safety measures," explains Markus Furtner from the Schärding fire department. In the meantime, two ceilings are said to have already collapsed, and parts of the upper floors have also collapsed repeatedly. "It is currently not possible to enter the site. The chance of survival is very, very slim," says Furtner. The two neighboring buildings were evacuated.

In the afternoon hours, special sound detection equipment from the Austrian Armed Forces arrived. With their help, the collapsed building was searched for signs of survival. Unfortunately without success. However, the emergency services are not giving up hope: special dogs have been requested, as well as drilling equipment that could enable access to the accident site via the outbuildings.

According to "Krone" information, the two buried victims are said to be two 23-year-old asylum seekers from Syria. The worker who just managed to escape from the building is believed to be a building contractor from the Innviertel region.