Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster: Israel’s Deadliest Building Collapse

Last Updated on February 5, 2025 by Ruby And The Wolf

On the evening of May 24, 2001, what should have been a joyous celebration turned into a national tragedy as the Versailles Wedding Hall in Jerusalem collapsed, claiming 23 lives and injuring 380 others. This catastrophic event, known as the Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster, remains one of the deadliest civil disasters in Israeli history.

The Collapse

At approximately 22:43 local time, as nearly 700 guests were celebrating the wedding of Keren and Asaf Dror, a large portion of the third floor suddenly gave way. Hundreds of people plummeted through two stories, resulting in a scene of chaos and devastation.

The disaster was captured on video by a cameraman recording the wedding, with the footage later broadcast worldwide, bringing the tragedy to global attention.

Causes of the Collapse

Investigations revealed that the collapse was not due to a terrorist attack, as initially speculated, but rather a result of structural failures and negligence:

  • The building was constructed using the Pal-Kal method, a lightweight concrete floor system that had been banned shortly after the hall’s completion due to safety concerns.
  • The third floor, originally designed to be a roof, was later converted into an additional story without proper reinforcement to support the increased load.
  • Weeks before the collapse, support partitions were removed from the floor below, further weakening the structure.
  • Attempts to level a visibly sagging floor with additional grout inadvertently added more weight to the already compromised structure.

Aftermath and Legal Consequences

The disaster led to significant legal and regulatory changes in Israel:

  • The “Versailles Law” was passed, establishing a special committee to treat victims of the disaster.
  • In 2004, the three owners of the wedding hall were convicted of causing death by negligence.
  • Eli Ron, the inventor of the Pal-Kal method, and three other engineers were sentenced to prison in 2007 for their roles in the disaster.

Compensation and Remembrance

After a prolonged legal battle, in 2016, the Israeli government agreed to compensate victims and their families with a total of 120 million NIS (approximately $31 million USD at the time). The compensation varied based on the severity of injuries and loss of life.

A memorial garden was established near the disaster site to honor the victims, with their names inscribed on a wall as a permanent reminder of the tragedy.

Lasting Impact

The Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster served as a wake-up call for Israel’s construction industry and building safety regulations. It highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of building codes and more thorough inspections of existing structures.

Today, the incident continues to be studied by engineers and safety experts worldwide as a sobering example of the potentially catastrophic consequences of structural negligence and the importance of adhering to proper building standards.

As Israel continues to grow and develop, the memory of the Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster remains a powerful reminder of the paramount importance of safety in construction and the heavy price paid when it is compromised.

Sources

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_wedding_hall_disaster
[2] https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4860633,00.html
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfa6biO7EVg