JERUSALEM — 2001 · Major Tragedy
Versailles Wedding Hall Collapse
On the night of 24 May 2001, the third-floor dance floor of the Versailles wedding hall in Jerusalem's Talpiot neighbourhood gave way beneath hundreds of dancing guests, who plunged to the floors below. Twenty-three people died and more than 350 were injured. Footage of the moment, recorded by the wedding videographer, shocked the country. The investigation found that the lightweight 'Pal-Kal' concrete floor system used in the building had never been officially approved and did not meet safety standards. The system's engineers and the hall's owners were later convicted of causing death by negligence, and years afterwards the state agreed to compensate victims' families.
- Date
- 2001
- Place
- Talpiot, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IL
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 31.7550, 35.2170 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 24 May 2001The hall's third-floor floor collapsed during the wedding.
- 2001A state commission examined the unapproved flooring system.
- October 2004The hall owners were convicted of negligence.
- May 2007Defendants including the flooring system's engineers were sentenced by the Jerusalem District Court.
- 2010sThe state agreed to pay compensation to victims and the injured.
Sources
- Times of Israel — State to pay NIS 120m to victims of Jerusalem hall collapse timesofisrael.com ↗
- ABC News — Deaths in hall collapse in Jerusalem abcnews.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Versailles wedding hall disaster en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Times of Israel
- ABC News
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.