ROME, Feb 17, (AP): Italian rescuers confirmed Saturday the death of a fifth worker after a concrete beam and layers of slabs collapsed at a supermarket construction site in the city of Florence a day earlier.
"I’ve just been informed that rescuers are recovering the body of a fifth worker,” said Tuscany Region’s president, Eugenio Giani.
Earlier, firefighters spokesman Luca Cari told RaiNews TV channel that they recovered the body of the fourth worker. "The mass of rubble is enormous,” he said.
A group of workers were putting together on Friday prefabricated concrete structures for a new Esselunga supermarket northwest of Florence’s main train when, according to initial reports, a reinforced concrete beam toppled over a layer of slabs, which then collapsed, trapping eight men under the rubble.
Rescue teams successfully pulled out three of the eight who were taken to local hospitals, where they were reportedly in serious but not life-threatening condition.
According to preliminary assessments, the accident happened due to a "structural collapse” of the concrete beam, which may have been caused by a misplacement or defect in its composition, officials said.
Florence prosecutors have ordered an investigation into the collapse, taking into consideration charges of negligence and multiple manslaughter, but no suspects have been named at this stage.
Marina Caprotti, the president of Esselunga, the supermarket being built, issued condolences on Friday and promised to cooperate with the investigation. She said the construction was outsourced to a third party.
The collapse rattled an already frazzled country that has suffered in recent years a string of deadly worker-related accidents amid heated political debates over poor and risky working conditions.
Most recently, in August, five rail workers were killed after being hit by a high-speed train while doing maintenance work on the railway.