One Dead in Partial Building Collapse in NYC
- By Sydny Shepard
- Nov 02, 2015
The interior of an eight-story Manhattan building collapsed into its basement during renovations killing one construction worker and trapping another worker within its rubble.
There were 19 workers inside the building at the time of its collapse. Crews had been demolishing the building to make way for a 27-story, 170-room luxury boutique hotel. The trapped worker was cleared from the rubble, injured. The other victim was found dead on arrival.
At least 60 firefighters flooded the scene just minutes after the collapse was reported, closing down the entire block in an attempt to keep others from getting hurt.
What exactly happened during the collapse was not clear from the street. Scaffolding and netting were still up on the outside of the building, and there was no sign of rubble or visible damage. This evidence suggests an internal problem lead to the collapse.
According to building records, the half-renovated building is owned by Fortuna LLC. The building’s owners had just switched demolition companies in a dispute over money. The contractor at the site received city approval in May for demolition of the building, and there were no recent work violations, according to the Buildings Department records.
About the Author
Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.