Lorraine Williamson
Emergency services were called to Bar Tempranillo in San Vicente de la Sonsierra at around 5.25 am on Saturday after a structural collapse inside the premises. Around 50 people were inside the bar at the time, with initial emergency reports indicating that between 25 and 30 were trapped among the debris and unable to leave without assistance.
The latest information confirms that 12 people were injured. None is believed to be in danger of losing their life, although one man suffered a possible leg fracture and an open wound.
Floor collapsed before part of the ceiling came down
Initial information gathered by the Guardia Civil indicates that the incident began when the floor of the establishment gave way. Part of the ceiling then collapsed, leaving people trapped amid the debris.
The bar had permission to remain open until 6.00 am, according to information provided by the Guardia Civil, and the emergency call was received shortly before that at 5.25 am. The precise cause of the structural failure has not yet been established.
Four Guardia Civil patrols were deployed to secure the area and coordinate with emergency teams. Firefighters, medical personnel, Red Cross teams, and Protección Civil were also sent to the scene.
Six injured taken to hospital in Logroño
Six of the injured were taken to the Hospital Universitario San Pedro in Logroño, approximately 35 kilometres from San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Other casualties received treatment at the health centre in Haro or at the scene.
Most of the injuries are described as minor. The most seriously affected person reported so far is a man with a possible fracture to his leg and an open wound.
Emergency crews initially faced the possibility that more people could still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Firefighters carried out searches while simultaneously working to shore up the damaged building and prevent further sections from falling.
Search dog confirms nobody remains under rubble
A Protección Civil specialist dog was brought in as part of the search operation. After firefighters inspected the damaged areas and the dog searched the rubble, authorities confirmed that nobody remained trapped beneath the debris.
That is an important development from the first reports on Saturday morning, which referred to between 25 and 30 people being trapped. Those figures related to people unable to get out immediately following the collapse, rather than people who remain missing under the rubble.
Neighbouring house also damaged
The structural failure also affected a neighbouring property, where a wall collapsed. Authorities have confirmed that the house was empty at the time, and nobody was injured there.
Architects and building surveyors were called to the scene to assess the damage to both the bar and the adjoining property. Firefighters have also carried out urgent shoring work to stabilise the affected structures.
Investigation opened into cause of collapse
The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation to establish exactly what caused the floor and subsequent section of ceiling to collapse.
For now, authorities have not announced a cause, and there is no official indication that the incident resulted from overcrowding or any particular structural defect. Those questions will form part of the investigation into the building.
The emergency search has now established that nobody remains beneath the rubble, but work at the site continues as officials assess the stability of the damaged buildings and investigators begin examining how the collapse occurred.