Bucharest, Romania—A residential apartment block partially collapsed in central Bucharest on Thursday, killing two residents instantly. The incident occurred without warning as structural supports gave way on the third and fourth floors. Debris rained down onto the street below, trapping several people beneath the rubble.

Emergency services arrived to find a scene of total chaos. They established a security perimeter immediately to prevent further injuries from secondary collapses. Firefighters utilized thermal imaging cameras to locate survivors trapped in the lower levels of the building.

The structure was built in the early 1960s and had not undergone a major safety assessment in recent years. Residents reported hearing a series of loud cracks moments before the walls buckled. The local council has ordered an immediate evacuation of all adjacent buildings as a precaution.

Rescue teams pulled two individuals from the wreckage before declaring them deceased at the site. Four others were treated for injuries ranging from severe trauma to smoke inhalation. Medical teams are monitoring the status of the injured at the municipal hospital.

Technical experts are currently inspecting the foundation of the remaining structure. They believe that years of water damage and lack of maintenance likely compromised the load-bearing columns. The public prosecutor has opened a criminal case to investigate potential negligence by the building management firm.

Engineers are using shoring equipment to stabilize the standing portion of the block. The street remains closed to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic. City officials are offering temporary housing to the dozens of families displaced by the emergency.

The cleanup effort is expected to take several days as workers sift through the rubble by hand. Heavy machinery cannot be used until the instability of the site is mitigated. No further casualties have been reported, but search dogs are still scanning the debris.