In Villa Gesell, a fatal collapse has caused shock and resulted in the disappearance of six people. Jorge Cocco, President of the Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Confectioneries, and Related Services (AHRCA), has provided details about the tragic incident and the consequences to be faced with the upcoming tourist season.
Cocco described how businessman Antonio Juan Cortes acquired the Dubrovnik hotel in April of this year and began renovation work, which is a common practice in other accommodations. He explained that the hotel, located on Avenida 1 at 260, only opens during the summer seasons and remains closed for the rest of the year, which is why the works were decided to be carried out at this time.
The AHRCA president mentioned that, after having breakfast with the businessman at the hotel 15 days ago, he was able to see the elevator shaft, which had been closed off by the municipality after an inspection. He highlighted that this area remained intact after the collapse, while in the last hours it was confirmed that the former owner of the hotel, Rosa Stefanic, was also found dead.
Regarding the works authorized before the collapse, these were limited to superficial changes like windows. Cocco indicated that, according to conversations with civil engineers, one or two columns could have been affected during the renovations. Despite the speculation and the lack of expert reports, it has been evidenced that there were violations in the construction, a common issue in many works.
On the other hand, amidst the uncertainty, the arrival of the summer tourist season is expected and how the tragedy will affect the influx of visitors. Cocco recalled a similar case that occurred in 2020 and expressed concern over how the news would be received by tourists. The anguish and mourning persist among the families and the community, while the search for the missing continues among the rubble.
