Latest news with #collapse
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Cockermouth Old Courthouse owner denies removing support pillars
The owner of a historic courthouse has denied accusations he removed pillars from the building before it collapsed into a rear section of Cockermouth Old Courthouse fell into the River Cocker in Cumbria in 2023 and the Grade II-listed building has yet to be MP for Penrith and Solway, Markus Campbell-Savours, claimed in Parliament the building's owner ignored advice about removing the support pillars and now wants the taxpayer to foot a repair bill of between £1m and £ Old Courthouse's owner, Samiul Ahmed, said he did not remove the pillars and said he only wanted support from the council. The Old Courthouse is about 190 years old and has not been used since its collapse meant a nearby bridge had to be closed to traffic over safety concerns, leading to weeks of disruption through Cockermouth. Campbell-Savours also claimed the damage to the building had led to an increased risk of flooding in the town."There is clearly a responsibility on the Environment Agency to reduce flooding risks in the town but right now they are being impeded in their ability to do that because of the difficult access to a dangerous building," he said. But Mr Ahmed claimed the MP's comments were nothing more than a PR stunt."I didn't remove any pillars," he said."It's an investment. We bought it and we want to fix the building and get it back into use."When asked about whether he wanted the taxpayer to pay for the repairs, Mr Ahmed said: "Why would we want that? We just need support from the council."Mr Ahmed claimed he already had plans to repair the building and turn it into residential said he was unable to proceed with the plans because representatives from Cumberland Council refused to meet with him, a claim the council March 2024, the local authority said it was planning to complete the urgent works to the building and would recoup the costs from Mr earlier this year, it said it had "no plans to undertake any physical works on the building" because it remained in private ownership. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Tragic cause of nightclub roof collapse that killed 236 revealed as owners are accused of ignoring warning signs
The owners of a Dominican nightclub where a roof collapsed, killing 236 revelers, had ignored warning signs that a tragedy could strike, according to a new government report investigating the horror accident. Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the sibling owners of Jet Set nightclub, were arrested last week, two months after the rooftop of the iconic club collapsed during an event, killing 236 attendees and injuring 150 more. The Public Prosecutor's Office in the Dominican Republic has sought preventative detention for Antonio and house arrest for his sister, according to Dominican Today. The prosecutors allege the duo's 'chain of actions and omissions... demonstrates a systematic pattern of irresponsibility and negligence.' Citing examples of such actions, a report from the office alleges the duo failed to get proper permits for the work they conducted on the nightclub, and conducted 'structural modifications without a technical basis, overloading the roof, deficient 'repairs' and disregard for danger warnings.' Prosecutors accused the Espaillats of trying to intimidate or manipulate company employees who could have been used as witnesses in the case. Antonio Espaillat is considered a powerful businessman in the Dominican Republic; he owns upscale entertainment centers and dozens of local radio stations. The Public Ministry claimed in the report that on the night of the tragedy, Maribel 'was aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse.' She was asked to suspend the planned party for that evening but 'refused to do so.' In her refusal, Maribel allegedly 'cited the absence of Antonio... and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people.' The report stated the tragedy 'would have been entirely avoidable if the defendants had acted according to the law and valued life over money.' The nightclub owners allegedly overloaded the roof of the club with technical booths, six air conditioning units weighing between 15 and 20 tons each, and water tanks. They did this 'without conducting any study to guarantee the structure's capacity to support such weight,' the report stated. Additionally, 'the nightclub, originally a movie theater, underwent a change of use that involved an inadequate structural adaptation,' prosecutors stated. 'A key column in the structure was subsequently removed, significantly affecting the roof's stability, without any professional assessment or permit to support the modification, demonstrating high-risk behavior.' Other changes which took place without oversight included installing a stage, lighting systems, bars, and VIP areas, prosecutors stated. Prosecutors allege the duo were completely aware that the roof was having problems and had received 'visual reports (photos and videos)' as well as 'communications from their employees.' In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, first responders worked through rubble and debris to find survivors. Crews worked for 53 hours nonstop after arriving on the scene in Santo Domingo shortly after midnight on April 8, rescuing 189 survivors. Once that was done and all the bodies were removed, the Public Ministry directed teams to preserve the debris to be inspected as part of the investigation. The victims included singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing when the roof caved in, and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz. Also killed was former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was pulled from the debris but died in hospital, and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera. Other victims include a retired U.N. official, New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco, an Army captain who left behind four young girls, and three employees at Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife. The relatives of several survivors have filed lawsuits against Antonio Espaillat. The club, which had operated for nearly five decades, was known for its Monday night merengue parties that attracted international celebrities and high-profile Dominicans. Miguel Valerio, the Espaillats' attorney, said earlier this week: 'This is an involuntary homicide. Nobody wanted that to happen.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
$500m feeding frenzy as empire implodes
The $500m collapse of a hospitality giant is set to spark a feeding frenzy among Australia's richest pub barons. The collapse of Jon Adgemis' Public Hospitality Group (PHG), has happened slowly, then suddenly with the former KPMG partner now facing the break up of his beloved empire. The Sunday Telegraph reports PHG has a whopping $500m in debts. A Notice of Application for Winding up Order has been lodged with ASIC. Adgemis' empire included 20 pubs, with the opportunity for some savvy buyers to 'pick them up on the cheap'. The pubs and other ventures in that empire that have been put up for sale include boutique hotel Oxford House in Sydney's Paddington, The Norfolk in Redfern, Camelia Grove Hotel in Alexandria, Darlinghurst's Exchange Hotel, The Strand Hotel in the CBD, The Oxford Tavern in Petersham, the Exhange Hotel in Balmain and the Melbourne's Clifton Hotel and St George. According to reports, staff are still owed $6.7m that needs to be paid by July 31. And jobs could be at risk, depending on how the hospitality venues are carved up and sold. Some of these venues have already been snapped up by hospitality giants such as the Solotel Group, run by industry veteran Bruce Solomon, whose other venues include the Clock Hotel in Surry Hills and the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay. Given the huge interest from cashed up pub barons in adding to their asset base, the sell-off of PHG, could see Aussie pub barons enter another scrap. That could lead to a showdown of sorts between the likes of pub tsars Arthur Laundy and Justin Hemmes over the ruins of Adgemis' empire. Scott Didier, Group CEO of construction firm Johns Lyng Group, could be another interested party after he recently expanding his empire with the $140m headline grabbing buy of the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay. It was the second highest price ever paid for an Aussie pub, behind The Crossroads Hotel in Casula in Sydney's southwest which changed hands for $160m in 2022. The Crossroads was purchased by former Sydney Lord Mayor and philanthropist Nelson Meers, could he also been interested in an offload from PHG? One of the more interesting assets in PHG's empire is the old Town Hall hotel in Balmain, which was an inner-city icon before being turned into a gym and is now looking for a new existence. Adgemis is not alone, with some experts are warning the increasing cost of doing business is driving more publicans and owners to call time on their venues. Adgemis was also working on big build projects including 19-room boutique hotel the Flinders in Darlinghurst, and one on the site of the former Noah's Bondi backpackers on Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. That was bought for $68m by Adgemis in 2022 and is now looks likely to be sold off to creditors. Adgemis has also had to move out of the waterside Bang & Olufsen House, a $130m+ mansion in Australia's most expensive suburb – Point Piper. It was so named because Elton John thought it looked like a stereo when he spotted it while sailing on Sydney Harbour and considered buying it as an Aussie pad.
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Bloomberg
Big Waves and High Tides Can Be Just as Insidious as Hurricanes
A couple of days before Christmas last year, battered by heavy waves, the end of the half-mile-long Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf unexpectedly tumbled into Monterey Bay. A tourist magnet claiming to be the longest fully wooden structure of its kind in the Western hemisphere, the wharf was open for business when the collapse happened, forcing visitors and workers to evacuate. Two engineers and a project manager at the wharf's terminus fell in the water but escaped serious injury. Some heavy construction equipment and a large public restroom weren't so lucky.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Colombia star Andres Felipe Roman, 29, collapses on pitch then returns to feet by himself
COLOMBIAN star Andres Felipe Roman terrifyingly collapsed during a top flight match last night. The full-back, 29, was in action for Atletico Nacional against Santa Fe. 2 2 Just 12 minutes into the contest, Roman collapsed by the touchline with no one around him. Deeply concerned staff members frantically waved for medical attention as the footballer lay unconscious. An ambulance was subsequently driven along the touchline. Thankfully, Roman returned to consciousness and was able to gingerly walk over to the ambulance. The former Treble-winner was replaced by team-mate Joan Sebastian Castro Dinas and later underwent a electrocardiogram. An encouraging club statement went on to confirm: "Roman's electrocardiogram came out clear. He is back on the bench." Roman then wrote on his Instagram story: "Guys, I'm fine… thanks everyone for the messages." Atletico Nacional won the match 2-1, courtesy of two goals by former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos. Ex-Premier League favourite Hugo Rodallega netted for the home side, with the former Wigan and Fulham star still going at 39. With Roman among their ranks, Atletico Nacional sealed a domestic Treble in February. Hugo Rodallega is still scoring goals playing for Independiente Santa Fe Roman has played for Atletico Nacional since transferring from Bogota side Millonarios three years ago. He had nearly signed for Argentina giants Boca Juniors in 2021, only for the move to fall through after his medical. Roman had been suspected of suffering with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, although further tests did not find evidence of the dangerous condition among his family.
