‘No time to escape’ as an earthquake-damaged chimney crushes worker to death in Granada

Those of us who have tried our hand at building or renovating know just how much of a task it can be, and it isn’t always as safe as we would like to think. Working around old structures becomes even more dangerous when the building has already been weakened by earthquakes. Structures may appear solid from ground level, yet cracks, loosened masonry or changes in the way it is supported can make demolition work unpredictable. For the people carrying out that work, there may be very little warning when something shifts.

That danger became tragically clear in Granada on Tuesday, when a worker was crushed to death by a chimney he was helping to prepare for demolition. The structure had been damaged by the recent earthquakes and was being supported before it was taken down. Investigators are now examining whether the seismic activity played any part in what happened.

The chimney fell in the wrong direction

The accident happened shortly before 11:00am on Calle Laureado López Muñoz in the Zaidín district, where three workers were carrying out work on structures affected by the earthquakes. The chimney had already been supported because it was due to be demolished. During the operation, however, it toppled in the opposite direction to the one the workers had expected, catching the victim by surprise and leaving him no time to get out of the way.

Emergency crews were called to the scene and 061 medical staff, Policía Nacional and Policía Local officers were sent to the address. Medics carried out CPR on the seriously injured worker, but he could not be saved. The accident has now raised a difficult question for a city that has spent weeks dealing with repeated earthquakes: how much damage has actually been caused to structures that may look secure from the outside?

Hundreds of chimneys have been supported

The seismic sequence has led to hundreds of chimneys across Granada being supported as a precaution, particularly in areas where buildings have been affected by the tremors. That makes the condition of damaged structures an immediate concern for anyone living or working around them. Demolition and repair work is already taking place, but until inspections are completed, the full extent of the damage cannot be known.

Further incidents cannot be ruled out while damaged structures are being assessed and made safe. This unfortunate event shows just how quickly conditions can change when work is being carried out around a structure that has already been compromised. That is why the investigation will matter far beyond this single death. There is confirmed structural damage elsewhere in the Granada area. The historic chimney at the Feria de Muestras in Armilla suffered major damage during the earthquake sequence, including a large hole near its upper section and cracks affecting its stability. The site was evacuated as authorities assessed the danger.

Even the Alhambra has been affected

Even the most visited monument in Europe, The Alhambra, has also recorded earthquake-related damage. Technicians inspecting the Alcazaba found anomalies in some battlements at the Torre del Homenaje and Torre Quebrada, which have since been secured and stabilised as a precaution.

The Patronato de la Alhambra has stressed that the affected elements do not have significant structural damage, but the areas have been restricted while more detailed inspections are carried out. The findings will also be used to assess how the monument responds to future tremors.

Investigation now underway

Police Scientific officers and the Grupo de Homicidios are investigating the circumstances surrounding the worker’s death, alongside the labour inspectors. The Centro de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales has also been informed.

Police have confirmed that the recent earthquakes are what caused the structure of the chimney to become weak what the Investigators will have to establish is whether the demolition work itself caused the unexpected movement, or whether other factors were involved.