The roof of a ladder in a parking garage being built in Philadelphia suddenly collapsed, killing one person, while two others were missing and presumed dead, authorities said.
A roof section in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia garage fell on Wednesday, leading to a “progressive collapse of connected sections across all seven levels,” Mayor Cheryl Parker told reporters.
“Let me be very clear about something at this moment: We are not, we will not abandon these individuals and we will not rest until everyone is held accountable for this tragedy,” she said.
By Thursday, search dogs had found no signs of life at the collapse site, she said.
Crews initially rescued three people, including one who was seriously injured and later died at a hospital, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said. Two others were treated and released.
The building is unstable, so crews have to dismantle it in order to search the entire building, Thompson said.
“We’re actually going to dismantle this building and remove its layers, and that will make it safe for my team members to get in and go down to the lowest levels to ensure there are no survivors down there,” he said.
All permits required for the project were properly issued and inspections were up to date, according to Parker. She said the city would investigate the collapse.
The hospital said in a statement that it prioritizes the safety of construction workers and works closely with the city and its construction partners.