Three Killed In Florida Parking Garage Collapse
Three people are confirmed dead after the collapse of a parking garage at West Miami-Dade College on Wednesday. Initial reports confirmed one person dead, but as search and rescue crews continued to work throughout the day, the toll increased to three.
The parking garage, which was under construction, collapsed just before 11:40 am, creating a pancake-style collapse, reports CBS News.
The Inquisitr previously reported that several workers were injured in the collapse, with at least four taken to the hospital for their injuries. Two trapped workers were communicating with rescue teams through cellphones, but authorities did not release the extent of their injuries.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Captain Louie Fernandez stated of the collapse, “It was a floor upon floor, collapsing all the way down to the ground floor.”
It is not yet clear what caused the parking garage to fall, but William P. Bryne, the president and CEO of the garage’s contractor, Ajax Building Corp., assured that an internal review will be launched to find the cause.
Byrne added that the company will embrace “any additional protocols, policies and procedures that will enhance and ensure the continued priority of safety.”
According to The Examiner, the school’s website has no information about the collapse so far, though the news media has turned to Twitter, where outlets like the Associated Press posted tweets saying, “@AP would like to talk to anyone who witnessed parking garage collapse at Miami-Dade College.”
The garage collapse began when the almost completed structure’s top floor fell, taking four of the five floors from the structure with it. The garage was expected to be opened early next year.
