Four killed in Madrid building collapse during hotel renovation
Four people died after a six-storey building in central Madrid collapsed during renovation works to convert it into a hotel. All missing persons have been recovered, and investigations are under way into possible structural or safety failings.
- Four people, including three construction workers and an architect, died after a six-storey building collapsed in central Madrid.
- Emergency teams recovered the last two bodies 15 hours after the incident.
- The building, under hotel renovation, had previously failed technical safety inspections.
Four people have been confirmed dead after a six-storey building collapsed on Hileras Street in the centre of Madrid, Spanish emergency services announced on Wednesday. The building, undergoing conversion into a hotel, caved in on Tuesday afternoon, 7 October 2025, leaving its façade standing while several floors gave way.
The victims — three construction workers from Ecuador, Mali, and Guinea-Conakry, and a 30-year-old architect — were recovered after a 15-hour search involving firefighters, drones, and sniffer dogs. Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said on social media platform X that all those reported missing had been found.
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm that Madrid firefighters have recovered the bodies of the people who went missing after the collapse,” the mayor stated.
Two victims were found on Tuesday night, and the remaining two were located early on Wednesday morning. Three other workers were injured and taken to nearby hospitals.
One survivor, Mikhail, told Reuters that he had been pumping concrete at the site when the collapse occurred.
“I was the first to run, I didn’t care about anything else. I’ll save my life first and, if I can, save others later,” he said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. The building, constructed in 1965, had previously failed technical safety inspections in 2012 and 2022, which classified it as being in an “unfavourable” condition due to structural and plumbing deficiencies.
The renovation project, led by the developer Rehbilita, aimed to convert the structure into a four-star hotel. The property is owned by RSR, a Saudi-based investment fund that acquired it for €24.5 million (US$28.5 million) in 2022. According to municipal records, renovation approval was granted in December 2024, with completion scheduled within two years.
Emergency services said the collapse appeared to affect the building’s internal structure while the exterior remained largely intact. Rescue teams worked throughout the night, carefully removing debris due to the unstable condition of the remaining walls.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the area remained cordoned off while engineers and police conducted a technical inspection to determine potential negligence or construction faults. City officials are also reviewing the building’s inspection and permit history.
The site, located near Madrid’s opera house and royal palace, is part of a district popular with tourists and undergoing significant redevelopment. The tragedy has reignited public debate on the safety of refurbishment projects in older buildings across Spain’s capital.
