The collapse of a terrace at a restaurant in Playa de Palma on May 23, which tragically resulted in four fatalities and 16 injuries, has shed light on the illegal operations of the Medusa Beach Club. Investigations by the Palma City Council revealed that the terrace lacked the necessary permits for both activity and occupancy, making its operations entirely unauthorized.

Causes of the Collapse

According to Jaime Martínez, the Mayor of Palma, reports from urban planning and fire department officials pointed to a combination of structural overload due to unauthorized modifications over the years and excessive weight from the estimated 21 people present on the day of the collapse as the primary causes.

Así está hoy Medusa Beach Club después de desplomarse la terraza anoche y cobrarse 4 muertos y varios heridos (según fuentes informativas) #mallorca #sucesos pic.twitter.com/5OdxcI7nZt

— Andrés Llompart (@andresllompart) May 24, 2024

City’s Response and Legal Action

Martínez emphasized that these findings have been forwarded to the National Police and the prosecutor’s office for further investigation. The City Council intends to actively participate in any ensuing legal proceedings.

History of Unauthorized Modifications

The Medusa Beach Club, located on the first floor of a building overlooking Playa de Palma, operated without the required activity or occupancy licenses for its terrace area. Despite the ground floor holding permits for a bar and restaurant, the upper floor where the terrace was situated was entirely unauthorized. Notably, this area was not registered in the cadaster, and there is no record of any permit applications for its use.

Authorities’ Investigation

The collapse was attributed to the strain caused by previous unpermitted renovations and the additional weight of patrons on the day of the incident. Eder García, the chief of the Palma fire department, highlighted that prior unauthorized construction work, including the addition of a wooden kiosk and structural modifications, further compromised the terrace’s integrity.

Safety Oversight and Responsibility

The authorities have indicated that the terrace had likely been in operation for several years, as evidenced by footage from previous years. However, specifics regarding its duration of use remain unclear.

Martínez stressed that while it is not feasible for inspectors to monitor every establishment in Palma, property owners bear the responsibility for ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

Community Impact and Support

The Medusa Beach Club is operated by a foreign-owned company. Meanwhile, efforts are underway by the Palma City Council to cover the repatriation costs for the deceased.

As investigations continue, this tragic incident highlights the importance of adherence to building regulations and the enforcement of safety standards to prevent similar occurrences in the future.