ResidentialEngineering UrbanInfrastructure Paris BuildingSafety

Paris apartment floor collapse injures 19 during birthday celebration

*Emergency response at Rue Amelot after the collapse of a fifth-floor apartment into the level below. Source: Blue News*

A birthday celebration in a fifth-floor apartment in Paris’s 11th arrondissement ended abruptly early on 18 January 2026 when the apartment floor collapsed into the level below. The incident occurred shortly after midnight at a residential building on Rue Amelot, where approximately 50 guests had gathered. Nineteen people sustained injuries, with one individual reported in critical condition following cardiac arrest at the scene. No fatalities were confirmed.

Emergency services responded within minutes, deploying extensive resources to stabilise the structure and assist the injured. One victim was recovered from beneath debris and successfully resuscitated before being transferred to hospital.

More than 120 firefighters and dozens of rescue vehicles were mobilised by the Paris Fire Brigade to secure the site and evacuate occupants. As a precaution, the affected building and two neighbouring properties were temporarily evacuated. Authorities confirmed that while the overall building structure remains stable, the fourth floor has been temporarily reinforced to mitigate further risk pending detailed assessment.

Prosecutors have opened a formal investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary assessments suggest the failure may be linked to excessive loading or dynamic actions during the gathering, although no conclusions have been reached. A full audit will follow, including checks on floor construction, material degradation, and compliance with design capacity typical of older Parisian residential buildings.

The incident highlights the structural sensitivity of high-occupancy events in ageing urban housing stock.