On Tuesday, a parking garage collapsed in New York City’s Financial District, resulting in numerous fatalities or injuries.
One person has died, one has been hurt, and at least one is still missing, according to the authorities. Rescue workers are striving to reach the injured, but their efforts are being hampered by the unstable building and the hazardous environment caused by combustible car components. According to earlier records, there have been unsafe building violations since 2008 as a result of concrete fissures.
A piece of the garage’s roof and many floors are seen collapsing to the ground in the incident’s frightening video footage.
🚨#UPDATE: The incident was caught on footage from a vehicle parked inside the garage after there was reports of an explosion and collapse in a parking garage at Ann St and William St in Manhattan. Multiple people reportedly trapped possibly feared dead. Some buildings near the… pic.twitter.com/Y5G0n0FgKR
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 18, 2023
Online records from the New York City Department of Buildings revealed that the building where the collapse occurred had been ticketed for 45 infractions since 2003, most of which were linked to its elevators.
In a 2003 filing, it was reported that “ceiling slab cracks exist” and that “defective concrete with exposed rear cracks” had been infringed upon and that a $800 fine had been paid.
Witnesses reported that the collapse occurred suddenly and without warning.
Residents of an adjacent apartment building on the same street claimed to have evacuated their residence with their pets as the building started to tremble due to the power of the collapse.
Authorities said Pace University, a private educational institution, was evacuated out of caution since its students, instructors, and staff use the parking complex.
The structure was still collapsing, according to John Esposito, chief of fire operations for the New York City Fire Department, making the situation exceedingly risky for firefighters.
