The accident occurred when a reinforced concrete beam toppled over a slab of a pre-fabricated building, leading to its collapse. Local authorities have reported that rescue teams are currently searching for the missing individuals, with concerns that the death toll could increase.
Three other workers who were rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building have been transported to local hospitals, where they are said to be in serious but stable condition.
Tuscany region’s president, Eugenio Giani, stated that approximately 50 people were on the site at the time of the accident, with only eight workers directly involved in the collapse.
The under-construction supermarket is part of Italy’s Esselunga chain. Giani, speaking to Italian TV SkyTg24, mentioned that the accident could have been even more tragic, as a school bus with children was passing near the site at the time.
He emphasised that the tragedy would compel everyone to make strong commitments to prevent similar incidents in the future. Two street cleaners who arrived shortly after the accident reported hearing the cries of injured workers calling for help.
The building site has been cordoned off and formally seized by investigators. Later on Friday, Florence’s public prosecutor’s office initiated a probe into the incident, initially without naming suspects, focusing on “culpable collapse and manslaughter,” as reported by Italian news agency ANSA.
Italy’s three largest unions—CGIL, CISL, and UIL—called for a “general strike” in Tuscany, following the accident to demand better safety measures.
“No more deaths at work,” said their joint statement, denouncing a surging number of accidents on Italian workplaces amid difficult and risky work conditions.
In 2021, the most recent year for which official data from the statistics agency Eurostat is available, Italy recorded 601 workplace deaths, the second-highest figure in the European Union after France.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences on X, formerly Twitter, and stated that she was closely monitoring the situation “with apprehension.”
Marina Caprotti, the president of Esselunga, expressed her sorrow for the accident and affirmed that the company would cooperate with magistrates to uncover the causes of the collapse. Florence’s Mayor Dario Nardella declared a day of mourning in the city on Saturday.