A horrifying incident in Trujillo, Peru took place on Friday, February 21, when the Real Plaza shopping mall's roof collapsed on top of families dining at the mall's food court and children were at the mall's playground. At least six people died and the debris injured 78. Among the injured are 11 children who are in critical condition.
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The incident took place around 8:45 p.m. local time in Trujillo, about 345 miles north of Lima, Peru's capital at the Real Plaza Trujillo shopping mall. The roof collapsed on top of the mall's food court where families were dining. Additionally, part of the metallic structure also collapses on top of a children's playground, according to local outlet RPP.
According to Gelqui Gómez, a member of the fire brigade, the dead include a 40-year-old man, a 35-year-old woman, a 17-year-old female teen, and an 8-year-old girl. Gómez added that there is a possibility that even more people could have died or become injured as a result of the roof collapse. The rescue efforts were paused late into Friday night as a result of power outages. They were resumed on Saturday morning.
A 26-year-old man had his leg amputated as a result of his sustained injuries, according to councilwoman Sandra Trujillo. First responders transported the 78 injured people to local hospitals in Trujillo. The Real Plaza incident is currently under investigation by local authorities as rescue efforts continue. In an interview with Canal N, reported by Infobae, Francisco Jaramillo, Manager of Supervision and Oversight at Ositrán, stated that heavy rain might have caused the collapse due to water overload.
Real Plaza Addressed The Tragedy
Following the tragic incident, Real Plaza, owned by Intercorp Group, issued a statement on social media.
"At Real Plaza, we deeply regret what happened at our shopping center in Trujillo and express our sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives," the statement reads. "Likewise, we extend our full support to all their loved ones and to those injured in this unfortunate accident."
"In close coordination with the authorities, we continue to work on rescue efforts, providing all necessary support to those affected, and assisting in the investigations that will determine the cause of the accident."
Real Plaza announced that they would close down their shopping malls across the country on Saturday, February 22 as "a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims."
Notably, Real Plaza's X account's most recent statement before the tragedy took place on Friday addressed a closure made by local authorities. Real Plaza insisted at the time that the reasons for the closure did not represent "any imminent danger" for the public at the time.
"To all visitors of Real Plaza Trujillo, we inform you that despite demonstrating that the minor observations made by the Municipality on December 27, 2023, do not represent any imminent danger nor are they grounds for closure, we regret to inform you that we are still unable to open our doors to the public," the statement read.
"At Real Plaza, we strive to offer a safe entertainment space for Trujillo families. Therefore, we ask the municipal authorities to allow us to resume our normal activities."
