At least 3 injured, 4 missing in Madrid building collapse

A building under renovation partially collapsed in central Madrid on Tuesday, leaving at least three people injured and four others missing, authorities said.

Inmaculada Sanz, deputy mayor of Madrid, told reporters at the scene that the immediate priority is to locate the missing individuals and ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the rescue operation.

The incident occurred shortly after 13:00 on Calle de las Hileras in the Opera District. Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash followed by a cloud of dust and debris filling the street.

"Out of nowhere, we heard lots of sirens and saw police and SAMUR ambulances, everything, and police officers running down the street. We leaned out and looked, and everything was covered in dust," said Sofia, an employee of a nearby shop.

"I'm waiting to see what the problem is, if someone I know comes out, that's why. For us workers, I have my guys here working with me, also here on the Hileras Street, and let's see if anyone comes out," said worrying construction worker Karim from Morocco.

According to authorities, the collapse involved the upper floors of a five-story building, including a basement, which gave way progressively downward. The facade remains unstable, posing challenges for emergency teams working on site.

Rescue operations are underway as crews carefully navigate unstable structures and large piles of debris. Emergency responders, including firefighters, engineers, medical staff and psychologists, are assisting victims and supporting affected families, Sanz said.

She added that the operation is expected to continue for several hours, possibly even days, as teams work to stabilize the building and clear debris. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

At least 3 injured, 4 missing in Madrid building collapse

At least 3 injured, 4 missing in Madrid building collapse

As much as 37 percent of Americans saw their debt increase during this year's holiday shopping season, with average debt rising to 1,223 U.S. dollars from 1,181 dollars last year, according to the latest holiday debt survey of LendingTree, the nation's online loan marketplace.

The survey, conducted earlier this month among more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, found that rising tariffs and higher prices have put additional pressure on household budgets.

In a statement, LendingTree's chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said the strain becomes more pronounced during the holiday season, as many consumers are reluctant to change long-standing shopping traditions, even as costs rise, leading to higher debt levels.

According to the survey, 63 percent of borrowers expect it will take three months or longer to repay their holiday-related debt, while about 41 percent said they are still paying off debt from last year. Schulz warned that if borrowers need six months to a year or more to repay their balances, the situation becomes more serious due to high credit card interest rates.

Data from Bankrate show that the average U.S. credit card interest rate currently exceeds 20 percent.

Meanwhile, U.S. consumers have grown increasingly pessimistic about their financial situation. Data released on Tuesday by The Conference Board showed that the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell for the fifth consecutive month in December, dropping to 89.1, the lowest level since April, amid deepening anxiety over jobs and income.

Over one-third of Americans rack up holiday debt: survey