“In this area of the city, there are many derelict buildings, and there is a real risk of collapse in some cases,” stated Ana Abrunhosa in a declaration following the collapse of a derelict building, whose debris hit an inhabited building on Saturday night in downtown Coimbra, displacing 14 people, including three children, who are currently housed in hotels.
The mayor announced that “an assessment of the derelict buildings’ situation” is underway and that all owners will be notified “urgently.”
“In fact, we have already notified some owners of derelict buildings in this first month of governance,” Ana Abrunhosa noted.
The municipal president also assured that if owners do not respond promptly, measures allowed by law will be taken, “ranging from administrative possession of the property to expropriation.”
Around 10:00 PM on Saturday, the collapse of a derelict building on Rua da Fornalhinha affected an inhabited building on Rua das Padeiras. The Civil Protection Office found it “unsafe,” necessitating the relocation of 14 people, aged between 7 and 45, into six rooms in two city hotels.
“Yesterday [Saturday], fortunately, no one died, but tomorrow the scenario could be different and we might have to deal with such a fatality. It is our responsibility to do everything to ensure that day does not come,” emphasized Ana Abrunhosa, guaranteeing that “this situation of thousands of derelict buildings spread across Coimbra’s urban fabric, unnecessarily increasing risks to people and property, will continue to receive special attention from this administration.”
Recognizing that both the City Council and derelict property owners have responsibilities, the mayor affirmed that the municipality will assume its responsibilities and “ensure the owners do the same.”
“If they do not assume them, we will do it for them. Baixa deserves this commitment. People demand this transparency. Baixa will again be a safe, lively, and lived-in space,” she stressed.
Ana Abrunhosa added that municipal services have been monitoring the situation from the outset, and “the Municipal Civil Protection, the Fire Department, and the PSP [Public Security Police] have been present from the first hour, ensuring swift, coordinated, and immediate action.”
“The owner of the affected building also promptly arrived at the scene and has been continuously involved in the procedures,” she stated, expressing “gratitude to all involved for their promptness and sense of responsibility.”
To the affected families, she offered “words of comfort for the difficult time they are experiencing” and assured that everything will be done “to mitigate the constraints and distress resulting from this situation.”
According to Ana Abrunhosa, contact was also established, early this afternoon, with “the owner of the derelict building responsible for last night’s incident.”
