Philadelphia Building Collapses During Demolition, Killing at Least Six


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By REUTERS
Mark Makela for The New York Times
A Building Collapse in Philadelphia: Reuters footage of a building collapse Wednesday in the Center City section.


By JON HURDLE

Published: June 5, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — A four-story building that was in the middle of being demolished collapsed onto an adjacent thrift store in central Philadelphia on Wednesday morning, killing at least one person who was trapped for several hours and leaving 13 others with minor injuries, city officials said.



The New York Times



Mark Makela for The New York Times

The building, at the corner of 22nd Street and Market Street in Philadelphia's Center City, had no existing violations and had been issued a demolition permit by the city in February.


One wall of the building collapsed about 10:45 a.m. during demolition work, sending bricks and other debris thundering into the Salvation Army store. Mayor Michael A. Nutter confirmed that a 35-year-old woman had died as a result. He gave no further details about her death. Another victim who had been trapped for hours was not seriously hurt, he said.
The cause of the collapse, which occurred on Market Street near 22nd Street, was not immediately known. Several government agencies, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will investigate.
The building’s permits were in order, and no violations were listed against it, said Carlton Williams, Philadelphia’s commissioner of licenses and inspections. He identified the owner as STB Investments of New York, and said city authorities had contacted the company.
A demolition permit for the building was issued in February, Mr. Williams said.
Standing across Market Street from where about 125 firefighters searched piles of bricks, shattered wood and broken concrete, Mr. Nutter said it was “incredible” that some people had escaped with only minor injuries. The city’s fire commissioner, Lloyd Ayers, said all were in stable condition.
Rescuers were able to communicate with the two trapped women before they were plucked from the debris, Mr. Ayers said. After both were taken away in ambulances, officials said a search for any other victims would continue with sniffer dogs.
“Search and rescue will continue until we have uncovered everything that we can possibly uncover,” Mr. Nutter told reporters at the time. He described the search-and-rescue operation as “delicate, dangerous work.”
In a late-afternoon briefing, Mr. Nutter indicated that there might be no more people left in the rubble. “We are hopeful that we have got out everyone else out of the building,” he said.
Despite severe damage to the thrift store, two walls remained standing and some items of clothing were still hanging in the window facing Market Street as dozens of firefighters streamed in and out.
Mr. Nutter said the authorities did not know how many people had been in the thrift store when the wall collapsed. Asked whether it was rare to allow neighboring demolition, he said, “It’s not unusual for people to be in stores or buildings next to demolition that’s taking place.”
Jordan McLaughlin, 18, said he had been walking on Market Street when the wall fell. “There was a big boom, dust everywhere, and the ground started to shake,” he said.
Mr. McLaughlin, a high school student who had been dismissed early from school, said he had rushed to the scene and spent about 15 minutes trying to free people from the rubble before emergency crews arrived.
He said he had freed two women, one in her 30s and the other in her 60s. Neither appeared to be badly hurt, he said.
In comments to reporters, Mr. McLaughlin brushed off a suggestion that he had saved the women’s lives. “I just went to try to help people because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/us/philadelphia-building-collapse.html?_r=0