On Tuesday morning, inspections will be conducted to assess whether conditions are safe for the return of the 14 displaced individuals, who will remain in hotels provided by the municipality, stated the source.
The inspection will involve the Municipal Firefighters, the local Civil Protection, and the Urban Management Department of the Coimbra City Council.
At around 10:00 PM on Saturday, the collapse of a derelict building on Rua da Fornalhinha impacted an inhabited building on Rua das Padeiras. The municipal Civil Protection Office determined that it was unsafe, necessitating the relocation of 14 residents, including three children aged between 7 and 45, to six rooms across two hotels in the city.
Coimbra’s Municipal Fire Brigade Commander, Paulo Palrilha, explained that debris from the rear part of the building collapse broke windows and entered the inhabited structure.
The Mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, acknowledged today that many buildings in the city’s downtown area are derelict, adding that “there is a real risk of collapse in some,” and a survey is being conducted.
“In this area of the city, there are many derelict buildings with a real risk of collapse in some,” stated Ana Abrunhosa in a declaration following the collapse.
The mayor indicated that a survey of derelict buildings is underway and all owners will be notified “urgently.”
“In fact, we have already notified some derelict building owners in this first month of governance,” noted Ana Abrunhosa.
The municipality’s president also assured that in the absence of prompt responses from owners, legal measures will be enacted “ranging from administrative possession of the property to expropriation.”
“Fortunately, nobody died yesterday [Saturday], but tomorrow the scenario could be different, and we may have to deal with such a fatality. It is our responsibility to ensure that day never comes,” emphasized Ana Abrunhosa, ensuring that “the issue of thousands of derelict buildings across Coimbra’s urban fabric, posing unnecessary risks to people and property, will continue to receive special attention from this administration.”
Ana Abrunhosa mentioned that municipal services have followed the situation from the beginning, with “the Municipal Civil Protection, Firefighters, and the PSP [Public Security Police] being present from the first hour, ensuring prompt, unified, and immediate action.”
“The owner of the affected building also promptly visited the site and has been continuously involved in the procedures,” she declared, expressing “recognition for the promptness and sense of responsibility of all involved.”
To the affected families, she offered “words of comfort during this difficult time they are experiencing” and assured that everything possible will be done “to alleviate the constraints and upheaval caused by this situation.”
Ana Abrunhosa added that contact was also established early this afternoon with “the owner of the derelict building responsible for last night’s incident.”
Lusa | 17:04 – 07/12/2025
