The notification was issued to the property owner on November 27, granting a 10-day period for the owner to comment during the hearing of interested parties regarding the classification of the building as vacant,” according to the same source.
At around 10 p.m. on Saturday, the collapse of a vacant building on Rua da Fornalhinha affected an inhabited building on Rua das Padeiras. The Municipal Civil Protection Office verified that the latter “does not meet safety conditions,” necessitating the relocation of 14 people, including three children. The relocated individuals, aged between 7 and 45, were accommodated in six rooms across two city hotels.
The Commander of Coimbra’s Fire Brigade, Paulo Palrilha, explained that debris from the rear part of the collapsing building broke windows and entered the inhabited residence.
The Mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, acknowledged today that many vacant buildings exist in the city’s Baixa area, noting that “there is a real risk of collapse in some,” and stated that an assessment is underway.
“In this city area, there are many vacant buildings, with a real risk of collapse in some,” said Ana Abrunhosa in a statement shared with Lusa news agency.
The mayor stated that “an assessment of the situation of vacant buildings” is being conducted, and all property owners will be notified “urgently.”
“In fact, we have already notified some owners of vacant buildings during the first month of governance,” noted Ana Abrunhosa.
The mayor further assured that in the absence of a prompt response from the owners, measures permissible by law would be taken, “ranging from administrative seizure of the property to expropriation.”
“Yesterday [Saturday], thankfully, there were no fatalities, but tomorrow, the situation could be different, and we might have to deal with such a misfortune,” emphasized Ana Abrunhosa, ensuring that “this situation involving thousands of vacant buildings scattered throughout Coimbra’s urban fabric, increasing unnecessary risks to people and property, would continue to receive special attention from this administration.”
Ana Abrunhosa mentioned that municipal services have been monitoring the collapse situation from the outset, with “Municipal Civil Protection, the Fire Brigade, and the Public Security Police [PSP] on the scene from the first hour, ensuring quick, coordinated, and immediate action.”
“The owner of the affected building also promptly visited the site and has been continuously monitoring the procedures,” she stated, expressing “appreciation to all involved for their readiness and sense of responsibility.”
To the affected families, she offered “words of comfort” and assured that everything possible would be done “to alleviate the constraints and anxiety resulting from this situation.”
According to the mayor, initial contact was made this afternoon with “the owner of the vacant building responsible for last night’s events.”
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by the mayor, it reads that “within a month, two buildings in Coimbra’s Baixa have collapsed,” describing the area as “a magnificent territory,” currently a “distorted puzzle filled with derelict buildings, with many owners failing to comply with the required renovations mandated by law.”
Recognizing that both the City Council and the owners of vacant buildings have responsibilities, the mayor assured that the municipality will fulfill its duties and “ensure that the owners do the same.”
“We will not hesitate to use all legal instruments at our disposal to ensure the restoration of public safety,” she highlighted.
