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People trapped in Philadelphia building collapse | People trapped in Philadelphia building collapse |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than a dozen have been injured after a building collapsed in the centre of the US city of Philadelphia. | |
Local media reported at least one person was killed when a four-storey building fell into a building housing a Salvation Army shop full of customers. | |
The collapse happened around 10:30 local time (14:30 GMT) in the Center City neighbourhood. | The collapse happened around 10:30 local time (14:30 GMT) in the Center City neighbourhood. |
The building was being demolished, though the cause of the collapse was unknown, officials said. | |
All 13 people transported to hospital had suffered minor injuries, the fire commissioner said. The four-storey building had both commercial and residential spaces. | All 13 people transported to hospital had suffered minor injuries, the fire commissioner said. The four-storey building had both commercial and residential spaces. |
Local television news reported one person was killed, though the Philadelphia Inquirer reported two were dead. | |
Mr Ayers said one person was still trapped inside the Salvation Army shop. He declined to comment about the person's condition. | Mr Ayers said one person was still trapped inside the Salvation Army shop. He declined to comment about the person's condition. |
'Lucky ones' | 'Lucky ones' |
Witnesses said they heard a loud rumbling sound immediately beforehand. | Witnesses said they heard a loud rumbling sound immediately beforehand. |
"I was standing there looking out my window, watching the men at work on the building, and the next thing I know I heard something go kaboom," Veronica Haynes, who was in an apartment building nearby, said. | "I was standing there looking out my window, watching the men at work on the building, and the next thing I know I heard something go kaboom," Veronica Haynes, who was in an apartment building nearby, said. |
"Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down... onto the other building.'' | "Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down... onto the other building.'' |
Bernie Ditomo told a local NBC broadcaster he was driving on a nearby street when he felt something "like an earthquake". | Bernie Ditomo told a local NBC broadcaster he was driving on a nearby street when he felt something "like an earthquake". |
"I said, 'What the hell is going on?'," Mr Ditomo said. "My truck is totalled. I am a little dusty and dirty, but I'm alright. I am one of the lucky ones." | "I said, 'What the hell is going on?'," Mr Ditomo said. "My truck is totalled. I am a little dusty and dirty, but I'm alright. I am one of the lucky ones." |
High school student Jordan McLaughlan said he saw several people on the ground being given oxygen by rescuers after the collapse as the air filled with dust. | High school student Jordan McLaughlan said he saw several people on the ground being given oxygen by rescuers after the collapse as the air filled with dust. |
Authorities have asked news helicopters to clear the air over the scene so rescuers could hear people trapped under the rubble. | Authorities have asked news helicopters to clear the air over the scene so rescuers could hear people trapped under the rubble. |
"This is delicate, it is dangerous work," Mr Ayers said, adding crews would continue to search until they were confident there were no other people in trapped in the building. | "This is delicate, it is dangerous work," Mr Ayers said, adding crews would continue to search until they were confident there were no other people in trapped in the building. |