Toulouse: “Shocked” neighbors after the collapse of two balconies
Two balconies fell from the facade of a building in Toulouse overnight from Friday to Saturday. There were no injuries.
“We heard a noise, like a crack.” This Sunday, the day after the collapse of two balconies in a five-storey building on Chemin du Carrosse, in the Montaudran sector in Toulouse, the inhabitants are in shock.
“It happened at night, around 4 a.m., describes a tenant who himself has a balcony. Luckily there was no one on the balconies or downstairs”. The balcony on the second floor has literally detached itself from the facade, dragging the balcony on the first floor down with it. Residents alerted firefighters early in the morning.
Rubalises now prevent access to the premises. Other balconies were shored up in the process and Heritage, the lessor, prohibited access to all the balconies still in place.
“I think especially of my little one, continues this inhabitant. The day before, he was playing on mine. I don’t have any confidence at all.” This other tenant admits to being “relieved that it happened at night. The lady on the ground floor is often outside, downstairs, during the day”. For her, “the balcony is an extra room when the weather is nice. Now I have a completely different look”. The building was built in the early 90s. Some residents explain that they have noticed “cracks”. Are they due to humidity? A construction defect? An expert will have to determine this.