Sadness and shock were evident as people lit candles in remembrance. In a show of solidarity, the community has also launched a fundraising initiative to support the families of the construction workers who lost their lives while on the job.

“We are organising this activity because it is very important for us to create space to come together, to express our condolences, and to show respect and solidarity to the families of the victims,” said Saya Ahmad, head of the 9th district from the SPÖ.

Stefan Fleischner Janits, a local resident, said he was returning home from work on Wednesday when he learned that four people had died during construction work in his neighbourhood.

“I am very sad for their families, especially for their children. Five children lost their fathers. I am deeply touched by this. It is important to come together in moments like this. This is the least we can do to show solidarity and compassion,” he told HAJDE.

For him, the accident was particularly shocking, as such incidents are rare in Vienna.
“When you believe that everything is safe and under control, and you live in a country where there is a Baupolizei (construction authority) that carries out frequent inspections, it is hard to understand how something like this could happen,” said Fleischner Janits, who is also a pastor and co-organiser of the gathering.

However, Kurto Wendt, a representative of the left-wing party Links Wien in the 9th district, said the tragedy was not entirely surprising. According to him, the incident highlights deeper issues within the construction sector.

“Construction companies subcontract work to other firms, workers are often underpaid, and safety standards are sometimes inadequate. I don’t know if that was the case here, but given the general conditions, one has to wonder why such accidents don’t happen more often,” he said.

Wendt believes the tragedy should prompt a broader public debate about labour conditions in the construction industry.

“It took four days to identify the victims because they don’t live here, they can’t vote here, and often don’t have their families here; they are, in a way, invisible. They build homes they will never live in. They work for others and generate profit for others, and they are recognised only when they die. That is the reality,” he added.

According to statistics from Statistik Austria, workers with a foreign background make up a higher share in certain sectors, such as construction. According to official statistics, foreign workers account for 9.4% of the workforce, compared to 7.2% of local workers.

Concerns were also raised by Josefa Molitor-Ruckenbauer, a Green Party representative in the district. While expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and appreciation for the community’s solidarity, she stressed the need for a thorough investigation.

“We are not used to such accidents in Austria. It is essential to investigate this case fully in order to prevent similar risks in the future,” she said.

Schauspielhaus at Porzellangasse 19 has set up a book of condolences, where neighbours, passersby, and members of the community can leave messages of sympathy and solidarity.

The tragic accident occurred on March 17, 2026, in Porzellangasse, Alsergrund, claiming the lives of four construction workers. Three of the victims were Albanians from Kosovo, while one was a Bosnian citizen from Novi Pazar, Serbia. Following the necessary procedures, the bodies of the Kosovo victims were sent to their homeland for burial.