A building under renovation collapsed in Sariñena, Huesca, killing one worker and leaving another trapped. Emergency crews are racing to secure the site and rescue the injured man. The cause remains unknown.
A construction site in the centre of Sariñena, Huesca, became the scene of a deadly accident on Thursday when a privately owned building on Calle Fatás collapsed unexpectedly. Three workers were inside at the time. One managed to escape and was quickly assisted by municipal teams before being taken to hospital. The other two were buried under the rubble, with emergency services later confirming the death of one and continuing efforts to reach the second, who remains trapped and injured.
The collapse occurred just before midday, catching the workers during ongoing renovation work. According to the Diputación Provincial de Huesca, the cause of the structural failure is still under investigation. The rescue operation has been complicated by the instability of the remaining structure, forcing teams to proceed with extreme caution to avoid further collapses.
Firefighters from Sariñena, Barbastro, Benabarre, and Sabiñánigo have been deployed, with the latter bringing a canine unit and a mobile command post. Drones are also being used to assess the site. Additional support has come from the fire departments of Huesca and Zaragoza, Guardia Civil officers, 061 medical staff, a 112 helicopter, Protección Civil, Cruz Roja, and Sariñena municipal services. The focus remains on stabilising the building and safely removing debris to reach the trapped worker without triggering new incidents.
As the rescue continues, Calle Fatás remains cordoned off, with emergency teams prioritising the safe extraction of the injured man. The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by construction workers in Spain, especially during structural renovations. Similar tragedies have occurred in the region, such as the fatal wall collapse during a storm in Tarragona, which led to the deaths of a mother and daughter and prompted local authorities to declare days of mourning, as reported in coverage of the Roda de Berà incident.
Building collapses in Spain, while not frequent, often highlight underlying issues with ageing structures, renovation safety, and emergency preparedness. In many cases, the complexity of rescue operations is increased by the need to stabilise damaged buildings before reaching victims. The current situation in Sariñena underscores the importance of coordinated emergency response and the ongoing challenge of ensuring worker safety on construction sites. Authorities have yet to determine the precise cause of Thursday’s collapse, and the outcome for the trapped worker remains uncertain as efforts continue.
