Naples Building Collapse

[dik]

from the BBC, "Rescuers in southern Italy are trying to find eight people missing after an apartment block collapsed in Naples.

Italian media say two families were living in the four-storey building that collapsed in Torre Annunziata district. Two children are among those missing."

Link:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40529527

Dik

 

[KoachCSR]

Interesting fact, according to Wikipedia, this city was destroyed during two separate Vesuvius eruptions: 79 AD and 1631.

Seems more plausible that the renovations played a factor in the collapse ("No way is that a load bearing wall...") vs. the railroad vibrations as the article mentions. Anyone ever heard of vibrations from a railroad causing anything like this?

 

[msquared48]

Unreinforced masonry that was never repaired after the last major earthquake, finally giving way under the vibrations from the rail line?

Seems strange though that the building would fail on the uphill side of the structure...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)