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One dead as Philadelphia building collapses Six dead as Philadelphia building collapses
(about 5 hours later)
One woman has died and 13 people have been hurt after a building collapsed in the centre of the US city of Philadelphia, fire officials have said. Six people have died and at least 13 have been hurt after a building collapsed in the centre of the US city of Philadelphia, officials say.
A four-storey building fell down, sending debris on to a building housing a bustling Salvation Army shop.A four-storey building fell down, sending debris on to a building housing a bustling Salvation Army shop.
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.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. Early reports said just one person had died, but rescuers continued working into the night.
Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said the search would continue with the aid of search and rescue dogs until they were sure no others were trapped. Mayor Michael Nutter said the dead included five women and one man.
"If anyone else is in that building, they will find them,'' he said.
All 13 people transported to hospital had suffered minor injuries, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said. The four-storey building had both commercial and residential spaces.
'Lucky ones''Lucky ones'
Witnesses said they heard a loud rumbling sound immediately beforehand. Several witnesses said they had been concerned about the way the demolition was being carried out prior to the collapse.
"We've been calling it for the past week - it's going to fall, it's going to fall,'' window washer Dan Gillis told the Associated Press.
Earlier, witnesses said they had 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... on to 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 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.