Two people have lost their lives and at least 13 others, including children, have been injured following the collapse of a balcony in the Scampia suburb of Naples, Italy, according to fire brigade reports on Tuesday.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday evening just before 11 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) when a balcony on the fourth floor of a residential building gave way. The collapse also caused two additional balconies to fall. The victims, a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, were residents of the social housing estate affected by the collapse.
Among the injured are several children, with two aged two and four reported to be in critical condition. The emergency services have indicated that some of the injured are in a severe state, with at least seven children between the ages of two and eight among those hurt.
The collapse occurred as many residents were outside due to the high temperatures, leading to scenes of panic. Emergency services reported that more than 800 residents were evacuated from their homes as a precaution and had to remain outside for several hours.
The cause of the balcony's failure remains unclear. The building involved in the accident was constructed in 1975, during a period when many structures in the area were built. Scampia, known for its association with Mafia families and prevalent gang crime, has many buildings dating back to the 1960s and 1970s.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse and assessing the condition of similar structures in the area to prevent further incidents.
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