Two construction workers dead as house collapses during renovation

A multi-family house in Rząśnik near Złotoryja partially collapsed on Wednesday, killing two contruction workers who were renovating it.

Two specialized search teams were called to the scene: one from Lubin and the other from Wałbrzych.

Also at the scene were rescuers from the Polish Medical Air Rescue, who had flown in from Wrocław, and county building inspectors.

The fire service said that the operation was complicated, as the buried persons were below the ground surface. "Fragments of the collapsed building fell into the ditch. Now, using our hands, we have to very carefully remove all that has buried the people we want to get to," Marcin Grubczyński of Złotoryja Fire Service said during the rescue operation.

Around 2 p.m., the rescuers managed to locate the first victim. "We knew where he was. Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts on our part, he was not showing any signs of life. As soon as it was possible, we took him out of the rubble. A doctor pronounced him dead," Grubczyński said.

Around 5 p.m., the fire service announced they found the second victim of the accident.

"We located him near the place where the gable wall had stood. Unfortunately, this person also died at the scene," Marcin Grubczyński added.

According to a fire service preliminary assessment, the other part of the building was safe to use. However, the final decision in that regard was completely the opposite.

"By the decision of building inspectors the building has been closed to residents. The family of six that lived in the building is currently staying at their relatives" - said the TVN24 reporter Tomasz Mildyn, who was at the scene of the accident.