An unexpected roof collapse at the Real Plaza shopping mall’s food court in Trujillo, Peru, resulted in eight fatalities, including three children, and left around 82 people injured. The tragic incident occurred on Friday night, February 21, 2025, at approximately 8:41 pm local time. Among the victims were eleven children between the ages of two and ten, said to be critically injured. The collapse caused panic among families who were at the mall for an evening of entertainment.
Real Plaza Trujillo is the second-largest mall in Trujillo, a major city on Peru’s northern coast.
Peru’s Defense Minister, Walter Astudillo, provided an initial death toll at a news conference the following day. He reported that five individuals had died at the scene, with a sixth succumbing to their injuries at a hospital. Two more deaths were reported after his statement. Astudillo extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
Of the 82 injured, nine were children aged between 10 and 12. It was reported by authorities that 30 people have been discharged from hospitals, while 48 remain hospitalized, including three in critical condition.
Rescue services, including the local fire department, were quickly on the scene to search for survivors potentially trapped beneath the debris. Luis Roncal, the fire department head, confirmed that initial searches with rescue dogs found no signs of life, but the search efforts would continue.
A witness to the incident recounted the horrifying moment to U.K. newspaper Metro, stating, “There was a very loud noise and then a cloud of dust where the roof caved in.”
Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez estimated that the roof collapse affected an area of approximately 7,535 to 8,611 square feet. The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the heavy weight of the fallen structure and the requirement for specialized equipment.
Santiváñez noted the need for hydraulic cranes to move parts of the roof not yet removed due to their weight. This equipment was necessary to continue rescue operations for any potentially trapped individuals.
The Regional Emergency Operations Centre reported a half-hour delay in the reporting of the collapse, contributing to a slower rescue response. Criticism arose regarding the lack of proper machinery used in the rescue operation.
Search efforts involved over 100 firefighters and police officers carefully sifting through the debris for signs of survivors.
The Real Plaza shopping mall is situated about 311 miles north of the capital, Lima, in the La Libertad region.
In the wake of the incident, Trujillo Mayor Mario Reyna announced the immediate closure of the shopping center due to the “imminent risk” and stated that inspections of other local shopping centers were planned.
A spokesperson for Real Plaza expressed deep regret for the incident and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He also stated that the mall was working closely with authorities to support the victims and assist in investigations to determine the cause of the collapse.
President Dina Boluarte stressed the importance of aligning private investment with social responsibility and not prioritizing economic interests over public safety. Despite this, she has faced criticism for a law requiring municipalities to lift temporary closures of establishments within 48 hours.
While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, some reports suggest that environmental factors may have contributed. The heavy iron roof structure that collapsed may have been weakened over time, possibly due to water accumulation from heavy rain, although officials have not confirmed any specific cause.