Neighbors reported falling concrete a day before Jerusalem balcony collapse, KAN says

Neighbors told KAN they reported falling pieces of concrete from the building on Sunday and called a professional, but the balcony collapsed hours later. The new detail follows earlier reports that the apartment owner had noticed the balcony sinking and hired an engineer.

New details have emerged about the lead-up to the balcony collapse in Jerusalem earlier today. Neighbors told KAN that they reported falling pieces of concrete from the building on Sunday and called a professional, but the balcony collapsed hours later, as The Zioneer reported at 20:43 Jerusalem. The new report adds to earlier information from KAN, covered by The Zioneer at 19:32 Jerusalem, that the apartment owner had noticed the balcony sinking and hired a private engineer hours before the collapse.

The balcony collapsed on Monday evening at approximately 17:41 Jerusalem, killing an 80-year-old man and lightly injuring three others. Rescue operations were conducted by the Fire and Rescue Services, with crews clearing rubble and searching for survivors. As the event unfolded, The Zioneer reported that the casualty toll was updated to one fatality and six injured, and that three people were treated for anxiety at the scene. Deputy Fire Commissioner Shai Nehemia described the site as "a severe and complex wreckage zone."

The Zioneer reported that rescue operations concluded at the site on Kaplan Street, and that the injured — an 80-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl — were evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem and Shaare Zedek hospitals. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, including the timeline of warnings to the property owner and the response by the professionals contacted.

20 developments

1. 20:44 · 20 JulLatest

   Neighbors reported falling concrete to professionals a day before the collapse.

2. 19:32 · 20 Jul

   Owner noticed sinking and hired engineer hours before the collapse.

3. 19:13 · 20 Jul

   80-year-old man confirmed dead in balcony collapse.

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