Reader TTS

CONCERNS MOUNT OVER STATE OF OTHER HISTORICAL STRUCTURES IN CITY The collapse of a building in the historical centre of Toulouse on Friday (March 8) has forced hundreds to be evacuated amid

concerns about the state of neighbouring buildings. Two weeks ago, residents on rue Saint-Rome in Toulouse alerted the mairie that cracks were appearing in a three-storey, 15th Century

building. Following a brief inspection, the mairie ordered the building’s evacuation and started emergency work to prop the building up. It collapsed on Friday night. No injuries were

reported, however 200 people have had to be evacuated from the surrounding streets. > Effondrement d'un immeuble à #Toulouse rue Saint-Rome : aucune > victime à déplorer, un long 

travail de déblaiement devra avoir > lieu pic.twitter.com/oEiV54Tll0 > — La Dépêche du Midi (@ladepechedumidi) March 9, 2024 Since the collapse, over 65 trucks have been loaded with

rubble as the remains are demolished. ”The building on rue Saint-Rome was an enormous and imposing structure,” said Toulouse mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc. “Its collapse created a shockwave that

resulted in further damage. In old Toulouse all the buildings interlock with one another”. READ ALSO: FROM €135,000: FIVE RENOVATION PROJECTS TO GIVE GRAND HOMES IN FRANCE This latest

incident is by far the most catastrophic in a series of “partial collapses” that the mairie has identified since 2020. Fortunately, so far there have been no victims. “We can only act when

problems are raised,” said Mr Moudenc, “however the responsibility for these buildings falls on their owners and building managers.” “In total, there are around 30 buildings in Toulouse that

we have had to ban all access to, some of which are truly ancient, but reparations just aren't happening since the owners don't have the means.” READ MORE WHERE HAVE PROPERTY

PRICES FALLEN THE MOST IN FRANCE? HOW AN AMERICAN CARPENTER HELPED REPAIR NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS