In the heart of Madrid, on Hileras street, a tragedy struck on the morning of October 6, 2026, shaking the city. A building undergoing renovation to become a future hotel suddenly collapsed, trapping four people under the rubble. Among the victims were the project manager and three workers—citizens of Mali, Guinea, and Ecuador. About forty people were on site at the time, and only chance saved the rest from the same fate.
The project was managed by Rehbilita, a company founded by brothers Óscar and Justo Prudencio Díaz. Their name is well known within Madrid’s construction circles: before Rehbilita, they ran Detecsa, one of the city’s largest demolition and renovation firms. However, behind these notable successes lies a worrying statistic—this is already the third fatal incident linked to their activities.
Company History
For years, Detecsa was considered a market leader, handling large-scale projects throughout the capital. Their portfolio included the demolition of the Canalejas block, the renovation of the España building, as well as work on Repsol and Mutua Madrileña sites. But in 2015, following a crisis in the construction sector, the company declared bankruptcy. Almost immediately, Rehbilita appeared on the market, with key positions filled by the same people who had run Detecsa.
A change of name didn’t change much: the work methods, the team, and even some subcontractors remained the same. Moreover, several managers responsible for safety at the sites also moved to Rehbilita. This has raised concerns that the old mistakes could be repeated.
Fatal Incidents
The first fatal incident occurred in 2006 in Barcelona, where a site supervisor at Detecsa died after falling from a roof. At the time, the court found the company guilty of insufficient safety measures, but this decision was later overturned on appeal. The second incident happened in 2014 in Madrid’s Salamanca district: a worker hired by a subcontractor was killed by debris that fell from the sixth floor. An inspection revealed violations in the organization of protection against falling objects, and both companies — Detecsa and the subcontractor — were ordered to address these breaches.
In both cases, the victims were employees of outside organizations brought in to perform specific tasks. However, Detecsa was responsible for overall site coordination and safety. After these incidents, the company faced financial difficulties, but, as evident, did not undergo major personnel changes.
Collapse on Calle Ileres
In October 2026, history repeated itself, but this time under a new brand. According to Rehbilita representatives, at the time of the collapse, work was not being done on the upper floors but in the basement, and there was no structural overload. They insist the building was in order and all regulations were followed. Nevertheless, the structure, built in 1965 and left vacant for many years, could not withstand the strain — the reasons remain undetermined.
This time, one of the victims was an employee of Rehbilita itself, turning the tragedy into a deeply personal loss for the company’s management. The other victims worked for Anka Demoliciones, a subcontractor hired for the project. Company representatives claim the tragedy could have been avoided if not for a string of coincidences: someone went to the restroom, another was running late after a smoke break. But such explanations are unlikely to bring comfort to the victims’ families.
Questions for the management
Within Madrid’s construction industry, there have long been rumors about a constant atmosphere of rush at companies run by the Prudencio Díaz brothers. Former employees speak of tight deadlines and intense pressure, especially when payments are delayed. Some are convinced that this race for results and saving on safety measures are what lead to tragedies.
With the investigation still ongoing, it is too soon to assign blame. However, the very fact that fatal accidents keep occurring on sites linked to the same group raises serious questions. Why weren’t lessons learned after two tragedies? Why did one company replace another, yet the methods remain unchanged?
The investigation continues
The case of the collapse on Ileres Street is now under review in a Madrid court. Investigators are examining documents, questioning witnesses, and analyzing the building’s technical condition. Final conclusions are yet to come, but public opinion has already been formed: the capital is demanding answers and change.
The story with Rehbilita and Detecsa is more than just a series of unfortunate incidents. It reflects the broader construction industry, where behind impressive facades and ambitious projects, risks are often concealed and rarely discussed openly. Until those responsible are held accountable, there is only hope that such tragedies will not happen again.
