Two Moldovan citizens lost their lives on Friday after a building under construction collapsed. The mayor of the Belgian city of Antwerp claims that just three hours before the tragedy, Belgian officials visited the school building, which in September to open its doors to students.

The Belgian press writes that King Philippe visited on Saturday, in the presence of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Antwerp Provincial Governor Cathy Berx, Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, and Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever, the site of the collapse of the school building. King Philippe was informed by Antwerp Fire Commander Bert Brugghemans about the rescue operations on the night of the tragedy. He then spoke with several rescuers in action on Saturday, including firefighters, police, members of the Civil Protection, the Disaster Victim Identification, and the Flemish Red Cross.

The disaster would have been even worse if it had happened a few months later, with children in the building, says the mayor.

“It is an unimaginable disaster. The building was almost ready, city officials visited it three hours before the disaster to see how the school could be opened in September. The disaster would have been even worse if it had happened a few months later with children in the building,” said Bart De Wever.

The reason for the collapse is being investigated, he explains, “it seems that the upper floor has collapsed, leaving no chance” for the workers present. “In my life, I have never seen this in a building almost ready,” the official added.

Two Moldovan citizens, workers on the site of the collapsed building, a school building under construction, lost their lives after being trapped in the rubble. On Saturday, June 19, the international press reported the death of a 29-year-old man from Moldova, and on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the death of the second Moldovan citizen.