Four citizens from Kosovo have lost their lives, while another is in serious condition, after a serious accident at a construction site in Vienna.
The tragic event was recorded on Tuesday afternoon in the Alsergrund area and was described by witnesses as a dramatic scene.
According to Austrian media, the incident occurred at around 2:00 p.m. in the courtyard of a residential building on Porzellangasse Street. During work on concreting a loft, scaffolding and supporting structures collapsed while five workers were on them.
The fire department spokesman announced that the newly concreted section collapsed immediately, pulling the workers down and trapping them under a large amount of concrete and construction materials.
Residents of the area spoke of moments of terror. One of them said that he first heard a very loud noise, then the screams of workers, and a few seconds later, emergency sirens were heard.
The incident was also witnessed by a crane operator, who was in his cabin at height and was unable to intervene.
The search and rescue operation faced great difficulties, despite the commitment of over 100 firefighters, police and medical personnel. Unsafe terrain, fresh concrete and unstable rubble made the intervention dangerous, forcing teams to work with their hands in some cases.
After about an hour and a half of searching, teams managed to pull out a 45-year-old man alive, who was immediately transported to the hospital with severe head injuries, broken limbs, and serious spinal problems.
Unfortunately, there was no rescue for the other four workers, as they lost their lives under the rubble.
Authorities are continuing investigations to uncover the causes that led to the sudden collapse of the structure.
The identity of one of the victims was confirmed by the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku.
"With deep sorrow I received the news of the tragic passing of our compatriot, Pajtim Bajrami from Klina e Poshtme, who lost his life at work in Vienna, Austria. This grave loss affects us all, leaving behind a huge void in the family, society and all those who knew him. I express my most sincere condolences to the Bajrami family, as well as to the families of three other compatriots who lost their lives in this tragedy."
