1 dead, multiple injured in parking garage collapse in Lower Manhattan
LOWER MANHATTAN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A parking garage next to a Pace University building partially collapsed in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon leaving at least one person dead, five others injured and crushing cars as concrete floors fell on top of each other one after another, all the way to the basement.
Officials said at least six parking garage workers were pulled from the garage. One person was pronounced dead on the scene, five others were injured. Fortunately, four are in stable condition and one refused medical treatment.
One worker was trapped on an upper floor, conscious and alert, calling for firefighters. He was rescued and taken to another building and after the workers were removed, firefighters were pulled out.
Another fell with the floor from the second floor to the first and walked away, while one worker was in an elevator and was shielded from flying debris, according to sources.
"We deployed our robot dog into the building they were able to give us a video inside and then we're able to fly drones inside to conduct an assessment and conduct searches," FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito said.
The building is located at 57 Ann Street between Nassau Street and William Street.
Officials evacuated the university building that is next to the garage that collapsed.
Eyewitness News Reporter N.J. Burkett spoke to a barber who heard the collapse.
"We heard a really big boom, like something out of the ordinary it was just a really loud noise like something exploded," Gabriel Yahoudaief said. "I saw people running out quickly from the scene, it was insane. Everyone was scared. Everyone thought that was their last time being alive."
The upper levels of the three-story building collapsed around 4:15 p.m., sending cars crashing down onto the levels below.
Officials said they have no reason to believe anyone is still inside but said they would continue to conduct searches with the robot dogs.
Eyewitness News Reporter Josh Eniger spoke to witness Jim Slattery who had just exited the parking garage moments before it collapsed.
"I didn't think about it much before but now it's starting to hit home," Slattery said. "I had no idea a collapse had occurred. I was lucky today."
First responders on scene said the building is completely unstable, and FDNY will not send anyone else in until the building is shored up.
Crews are trying to determine what businesses and city agencies use the garage and make sure all employees and staff are accounted for.
New York City Department of Buildings records show there is one open hazardous violation from 2003 for cracks in the concrete.
READ MORE | Collapsed parking garage had violations for decades
Councilmember Christopher Marte raised questions about the stability of other buildings next to the garage.
"We're going to keep on working with the department of buildings to make sure that buildings that do a violation or violations that are just closed, that we really follow up and keep these agencies accountable," Marte said.
Pace University announced classes are now canceled.
Eyewitness News Reporter Morgan Norwood spoke to one student who described the chaos while they were evacuating.
"All of a sudden we hear this huge, loud noise," the student said. "People were running towards it, people were running away from it, people are crying. We looked in and see rubble and cars and stuff."
The MTA said subways near Fulton Street are running at slower speeds.
Due to FDNY activity, the following streets are closed in Manhattan:
- Ann Street between Gold Street and Park Row
- Nassau Street between John Street and Beekman Street
- Dutch Street between John Street and Beekman Street
- Gold Street between John Street and Beekman Street
- William Street between John Street and Beekman Street
Investigators are looking into what caused the collapse.
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