collapse of the lecture hall of the university of cagliari what happened

Photo Ansa / Firefighters

The tragedy affected the University of Cagliari: on the evening of October 18, the building in which the Aula Magna of a faculty is located collapsed. No one was hurt. Classes ended not long ago and the establishment closed at 8 p.m.

Firefighters, with the help of dogs and drones, but also with on-site inspections, found no signs that would suggest anyone was under the rubble. The firefighters will secure the area, trying to understand the causes of the collapse. It is likely that inspections will now be carried out on all buildings adjacent to the complex belonging to the University of Cagliari. The building had hosted academic conferences until shortly before the collapse that occurred around 9:50 p.m. on October 18 in the building behind the main entrance to the complex which houses the faculties of humanities and the Aula Magna.

Photo Ansa / Firefighters

The building collapsed on itself. Only the lower part of the facade and the load-bearing columns that kept the structure attached to another “C” shaped building where there is also a kindergarten remained standing. “We need to understand the causes before drawing a hypothetical conclusion,” Cagliari Mayor Paolo Truzzu said. “We do a lot of checks on the buildings and despite that they are never enough: today we have to thank that this collapse took place late in the evening when the lessons were already over”.

Cagliari, the rector: “We are in order”

In the meantime, the student collective Reset Unica announced on social networks, for 10:30 a.m. a demonstration in the Rectorate on the morning of October 19. “There was no sign of what had happened. The buildings of our faculties are regularly inspected,” the rector of the University of Cagliari, Francesco Mola, told Ansa. he added – had the last lesson around 5 p.m. and then left. Then, as usual, all the buildings are inspected and, once it is found that there is no one inside , they are closed.

Photo Ansa / Firefighters

The building where the collapse occurred has not recently undergone any intervention. The Aula Magna at the University of Cagliari therefore apparently collapsed without a logical explanation, which now needs to be fully investigated. As mentioned, the building is located next to another C-shaped building which houses other classrooms and a kindergarten. “All this neighboring building – say the student representatives – will remain closed for control, as they have already communicated to us.”

Cagliari Mayor Paolo Truzzu at the site of the collapse. Photo Ansa / Fabrizio Foïs