One person is dead and multiple injuries were reported after a parking garage collapsed in New York City’s Financial District.
Firefighters and emergency medical services rushed to the garage, a multi-level structure located at 57 Ann Street in lower Manhattan, around 4.15pm on Tuesday afternoon.
At least three stories of the building collapsed, sending cars plummeting to the ground.
One person died and ‘as far as we can tell, so far there were six patients, six workers in the building at the time of the collapse,’ said New York City Fire Department Chief of Operations James Esposito.
Four people were transported to hospitals and are in stable condition, he said. One person refused medical attention.
Fire officials said said many more people could be trapped under the structure.
A witness, Erasmo Guerra, a witness, said she heard an incredible noise’ and went to the window and saw the collapse unfold.
‘I just saw the top floor of this garage…just beginning to cave in and cars just following into this pit,’ Guerra, who recorded it, told News 4 New York. ‘I was just in shock. I heard people on the street just screaming and yelling for other people to get out.’
The rescue operation is ‘extremely dangerous’ because the building is unstable, Esposito said. Firefighters were forced to retreat and the police department deployed its robotic Digidog to scope out the scene for survivors.
In addition, drones were used.
The building was in violation in 2003, according to the city’s Department of Buildings. The specifics of the violation and if it was corrected were not immediately known. The building, which received its certificate of occupancy in 1957, had active work permits for electrical issues.
City officials said to expect traffic delays and emergency personnel in the area of Ann Street and Nassau Street, and asked residents to avoid the intersection if possible.
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