In the center of Olomouc, part of a building collapsed and killed a pedestrian

Olomouc - This morning in the center of Olomouc, the gable of a building collapsed. Debris buried a pedestrian, an seventy-eight-year-old woman from Olomouc died at the scene. Marie Štrbáková, the spokesperson for the Olomouc police told the ČTK news agency. The accident occurred near the Prior department store on 8. května street, which is one of the busiest avenues in the city. Firefighter spokesperson Zdeněk Hošák told ČTK that firefighters had to evacuate nine people from the building. The tragedy halted tram service, which was not resumed until the evening. The police are investigating the incident, cooperating with the owners of the property.
    "The injuries were so severe that there was nothing that could be done. The woman died at the scene," said Jan Weinberg, deputy director of the regional medical rescue service to ČTK.
    The accident occurred around 10:00. According to Mayor Martin Novotný, the cornice fell, which is an architectural element used to visually cover the roof. In its fall, it pulled down the overhead traction wires for the trams that were attached to the building. According to the firefighter spokesperson, the debris buried the sole pedestrian, and no one else was injured. The police then closed off the street and cordoned it off with tape. Structural engineers and the crisis staff of the city and the Olomouc region were present at the site. In the evening, the mayor stated that the building should no longer pose a threat to anyone.
    According to the mayor, a part of the wall that was not in the original construction was constructed on the building as per the structural engineer. "That fell and brought the rest down. The building is from the 19th century, and the anchorage of the cornice corresponded to the methods of that time, which is also related to the age of this building," supplement Mayor Novotný. According to experts, temperature influences, wind, and vibrations caused by traffic may have contributed to the collapse of the masonry. "We had the structural engineer here at the council meeting as well, but they are not yet able to state the exact cause. They still need to examine aerial images," the mayor told ČTK.
    After the accident, a representative from the building's owner, Datrolex s.r.o., contacted the police. The company's managing director, Viliam Vidovič, cannot explain the accident. "I have no idea what could have caused the collapse. About two years ago, the facade of the building was being repaired, and there were no construction works going on today. According to preliminary information from the structural engineer, the building was sound," Vidovič told ČTK. He added that he sympathizes with the family of the deceased woman. "We will, of course, want to contact the family and express our sincere condolences. What will happen next will depend on further discussions with the relatives," Vidovič added. The property is home to the company Datrolex and is used for commercial purposes.
    Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud bang. "We were coming from the clinic, and suddenly the building collapsed. Allegedly, some electrical repairs were being made there, but I only heard that from people. There was a woman left there. It was a big bang, people ran out of the shops, everywhere was dust, it was terrible. Everyone was in shock, and an ambulance was quickly called for the woman," said a mother with a small boy who witnessed the tragedy to ČTK.
    The police are investigating the case. "We will be requesting expert opinions including a report from the structural engineers. We are securing evidence and traces at the scene so that we can investigate it properly. The results of the assessments will be available in a matter of weeks," added Štrbáková.
    The incident fundamentally affected tram transport. A part of the city center from the main train station to Hrdinů Square was closed to trams, with bus services provided instead. Other tram lines were operating through the Tržnice. The structural engineer approved the return of the overhead traction wires to the damaged building, and tram services could be resumed after 17:00 on the section from the main train station to Hrdinů Square. Debris from the site was cleared by city services.