Palermo, Freight Elevator Collapses and 5 People Fall into the Void: Mother in Critical Condition

Five people, including a family with three children, fell into the void after a freight elevator collapsed in a building in Palermo, Italy.

The incident occurred on Thursday, February 2, 2023, around 5:30 pm local time, in a building in the central district of the Sicilian capital.

According to initial reports, the family was using the elevator to move furniture when it suddenly collapsed, causing all five occupants to fall into the empty elevator shaft.

Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, and police, rushed to the scene and rescued the victims. The mother, identified as 40-year-old Maria Grazia Randazzo, was reported to be in critical condition with multiple injuries, including head trauma.

The three children, aged 10, 12, and 14, were also injured, but their conditions were not considered life-threatening. The father, 45-year-old Giuseppe Di Stefano, suffered minor injuries.

The other person involved in the accident, a 25-year-old delivery man, was also injured. His condition was reported to be stable.

The cause of the elevator collapse is still under investigation. Inspectors are currently examining the elevator's mechanics and maintenance records to determine what may have caused the failure.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of freight elevators in Italy, particularly in older buildings. Authorities have ordered inspections of similar elevators in the city to ensure their safety.