Several lanes at the intersection of Windhorst Road and Parsons Avenue in Brandon remained closed for the indefinite future as county workers tread carefully in determining what caused a section of the roadway to collapse July 19.
“We have to be really careful at that intersection because there are lots of utility lines in the area,” said Hillsborough County spokesman Patrick Murray. "We have a sewer line and a water line there and we have to make sure there are no other utilities, so we have to be careful drilling.”
At the scene, late afternoon July 22, barricades were seen at the intersection, with drilling under way.
Crew workers first believed a 16-inch sewage pipeline beneath the intersection might have caused the collapse of the 6-foot-square section of roadway on July 19, according to a county report.
But the sewer line was dug up and found to be intact. Now the county is testing the intersection for sinkholes — but carefully, as Murray noted.
Additional detours and lane closures are possible as crews dig up the line for inspection and any necessary repairs.
Motorists who must travel through the intersection are warned to expect delays.
Starr DiGiacomo
Five- storey building collapses in Onitsha
About 20 persons yesterday escaped death when a five- storey building collapsed at Nkpor, Anambra State. Property worth millions of Naira were reportedly destroyed.
According to tenants, the 10-year-old building on 27 Olukwu Road has been giving signs threatening to collapse since two weeks ago when cracks began to develop on various parts, sending down debris of sands and dry cement.
Eyewitnesses said the caretaker, Mama Chichi, allegedly disappeared as soon as the building collapsed.
According to them, the landlord is resident abroad.
The tenants said the landlord had advised the tenants to vacate the building. Chinwe Ugwuota and Eucheria Okon (tenants) said the landlord was worried that the building would collapse.
Divisional Crime Officer in the area confirmed the incident.
Police spokesman, Emeka Chukwuemeka, also confirmed the incident. He said there was no casualty
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/21351-five-sto...
Sep 30, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Wind, waves close parts of lakeshore path
September 30, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- High winds and strong waves created a dangerous situation along the Lake Michigan shoreline from the city to northwest Indiana Friday.
Sections of the path along the lake have been closed.
Joggers and bicyclists had to dodge high waves. Some people were knocked down and nearly dragged into the lake. The path is now closed between Oak Street and Fullerton because of the dangerous conditions.
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New closures along the lakefront paths seem to be changing by the hour. The main message is to stay away. The wind whipped up the waves, causing hazardous conditions. Dangerous waves crashed over Oak Street Beach.
Emergency crews descended to prevent team from getting hurt.
"It was out of control. You couldn't walk. It was pushing you to the side," said Carmen McNealy.
Police say people are intentionally disregarding barricades. Some runners say they came out to the lake just to see the unruly waves.
"We came out here on purpose because of the wind today, because we knew it would be beautiful on the lake," said runner Lee Langill.
Police say the waves are pushing up concrete near North Avenue Beach, and boaters are being warned about the rough conditions.
Powerful winds overnight are being blamed for the falling of the facade of a vacant home(There's that word again...the house fell down) onto a street, throwing bricks onto parked cars on West 23rd Street in Little Village near California Ave. No one was injured.
The wind is also being blamed for snapping power lines around the city and suburbs. A downed power line in Glenview crackled and sparked on the ground, starting a small fire. No one was hurt there.
"I was just sleeping and heard the wind was hard, and it just blew it over. I heard the wind and afterwards heard the big bang," said Joel Roman,
The wind also pushed a shopping cart through the parking lot at a Target store in Niles. In some places, the wind reached 50 miles per hour.
On the roadways, the Indiana Toll Road has temporarily banned some big rigs from the western part of the toll road.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8373745
Sep 30, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Friday, Sep. 30, 2011
Crews fight water main break in Modesto
A water main burst Friday afternoon along Sherwood Avenue, between Rumble Road and Woodrow Avenue, near Birchwood Court in Modesto.
The water quickly flooded the street and made it nearly impassable.
Police were called in to handle the traffic as city crews worked to repair the ruptured pipe.
But crews reportedly were still on site late Friday because the high volume of water apparently weakened the soil and caused a portion of the road to collapse.
http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/30/1884969/crews-fight-flood-in-modes...
Oct 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Less severe winds continue Friday along with unseasonably cool temps
| Friday, Sep 30, 2011 | Updated 11:02 AM CDT
Some people will wake up to damage Friday morning after winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph hit parts of the area overnight.
Strong winds overnight could be the cause of a building collapse in Little Village and a fire in Glenview, among other local damage.
Winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph hit parts of the area overnight, knocking out power to about 27,000 ComEd customers. As of Friday morning, 6,200 were still without power, including 3,000 south of the city and 2,100 in the western suburbs.
Bricks from a Little Village home's second floor fell down to the sidewalk, exposing the attic. The bricks littered the sidewalk and smashed two cars parked near 23th and California. No one was injured. The homeowners are responsible for cleaning up the debris on the sidewalk.
The gusts also brought down a power line in Glenview. The wire started to spark and arch on the ground, starting a fire. No injuries were reported.
Out on the Indiana toll road, all triple trailers and some long doubles have been banned from the western part of the highway. The ban is expected to last until 2 p.m.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Wind-to-Blame-for-Building-Col...
Oct 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Pavement Collapses After Flood Damage in Fallbrook
| Saturday, Oct 1, 2011 |
A broken water line in Fallbrook caused flooding and water damage to an alley on Sunday morning.
The flooding was first reported at 8:05 a.m. in an alley near the 2500 block of Olive Hill Road, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Fallbrook Public Utilities District.
The flooding prompted water service to be turned off in the area, which mainly affected nurseries, according to Chris Miller, spokesman for the Fallbrook Public Utilities District.
Officials said no homes were without water and businesses were notified.
A 10 by 20 foot area of asphalt in the area began to collapse due to the flooding, said Miller. "The pieces are slowly falling in,” he added.
The repairs were expected to be finished later in the day on Saturday.
Source: Pavement Collapses After Flood Damage in Fallbrook | NBC San Diego
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pavement-Collapses-Flood-Dama...
Oct 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Building collapse causes major road closure in Bradford
September 27, 2011
A stretch of Leeds Road, Bradford, has been closed after a building partially collapsed tonight.
Emergency services were called to the Lux Lighting Ltd building, close to the Shell filling station shortly after 6pm.
The building is undergoing renovation but no casualties have been reported.
The road is expected to stay closed until the building can be made safe with police diverting traffic.
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/9274402....
Oct 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Sound tower collapse during concert in Palermo, 11 injuries
At least 11 people were injured this morning after a sound tower mounted in the City neighbourhood of Palermo collapsed during a marathon awards ceremony.
The structure collapsed at 10.40 am during the awards ceremony for those who participated in the 4 and 10 kilometers categories. The tower was mounted near the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Monroe avenues.
All injured people were immediately taken to hospitals Pirovano and Juan A. Fernández. Among the injured were two minors of 1 and 11 years old.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/80520/sound-tower-collapse...
Oct 2, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Night video recording on landslide on Armenia-Georgia border (video)
October 03, 2011 | 14:57
YEREVAN. – Armenian News-NEWS.am submits video from the site of road collapse, which occurred on Vanadzor-Bagratashen road near the Ayrum station. According to the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, seven people are missing as a result of the landslide.
Rescue works continue at the accident site, Emergency Situations Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Hotline is available at the Ministry: + 010-52-96-90, 010-36-02-97, 060 44 02 38.
As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, by the decision of Armenian PM, an operative team is formed to eliminate the effects of the landslide in Tavush Region. According to recent reports, 36 vehicles are under the landslide. Instead of the landslide-affected section of the Vanadzor-Bagratashen road of M6 Interstate Highway, the Vanadzor-Dilijan-Ijevan-Bagratashen bypass is currently in operation. Relevant governmental bodies ask drivers to refrain from traveling via Vanadzor-Bagratashen road.
The road is cleaned up, but landslide hazard continues.
http://news.am/eng/news/76427.html
Oct 3, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
JERUSALEM, October 3, 2011 (WAFA) – A Palestinian building in Wadi Helwa area, in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, suffers from serious cracks in its walls which could lead to its collapse as a result of the Israeli digging of tunnels under the neighborhood to connect it to the old city, Monday said a member of the Committee for the Defense of Silwan, Fakhri Abu Diab.
He said many serious cracks appear in the building, as a result of the ongoing digging by Israeli authorities down the road of Wadi Helwa and near a recently opened tunnel, putting the life of the Palestinian family in danger.
The family said that it used to hear the sound of drilling machines around the clock, particularly at night.
Abu Diab said an Israeli engineer visited the building and was astonished when he saw its state, saying immediately that its foundations must be reinforced. The building, which belongs to Abu Rmeileh family, is still in bad condition and poses a real threat to the lives of its residents
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17625
Oct 3, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Oct 4, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Wall of IDA Pharmacy collapses
Owner said front half of building will have to be taken down
Prior to the collapse, structural engineers had determined that the 120-year-old building was not sound and took measures to cordon off the area with fencing, explained Lockie Wye with Triton Engineering.
No one was hurt when the wall fell.
According to one of the building’s owners, Katie Keates, construction workers had been excavating the sidewalk in the vicinity of the building on Monday. The work is part of Muskoka Road’s reconstruction.
She said at this point the cause of the collapse is not known.
Keates did indicate there was a lot of vibration from the roadwork.
Keates said she has been told that the front part of the building, which dates back to before the turn of the 20th century, will have to be taken down because of the damage.
“The back half of the building was still sturdy and the front was sturdy until recently,” she said.
According to Wye, some of the building’s brick façade had fallen off on Monday, but he could not say if the road construction work had anything to do with the collapse.
“I don’t believe construction had anything to do with it, but how would you ever know?” said Wye. “I really don’t know if excavation played a role. There is no way for anyone to know.”
He believes the structural support wall behind the brick façade had “bowed very badly and pushed the outside brick off.”
Wye said the damage was first noticed by workers from the disaster restoration company working to gut the interior of the fire-ravaged building.
A structural engineer assessed the situation and recommended fencing off the area for fear the wall would collapse.
Keates said workers were going to shore up the wall of the building Tuesday morning, but the wall came down before the work was attempted.
“The important thing is again, no one was inside the building,” said Keates. “Even though it’s more bad news, I still feel lucky that no one was hurt.”
http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/local/article/1219069--wall-of...
Oct 4, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
INCIDENT: SCAFFOLD COLLAPSE IN LONDON
The Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle has reported on a scaffold collapse onto a pavement in London. The structure collapsed on busy stretch of Lillie Road in Fulham on Monday 3rd October.
Planning permission has been granted for a three-storey block of flats on the site of former council property sold to Jersey-based firm Golden Dreams Ltd. Investigators are now seeking to establish the cause of the collapse.
Scaffold seen “swaying in the wind”
An eyewitness said:
A local shopkeeper told the Chronicle said:
This article was posted on 5th October 2011
http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/newsdesk/2011/10/05/incident-sc...
Oct 5, 2011
astrogal50
First Posted: 10/5/11
India's iconic Taj Mahal is in danger of collapsing within five years if the issue of its rotting wooden foundation isn't addressed.
The 358-year-old-structure is located in the city of Agra, and serves as a mausoleum in memory of the wife of an emperor. As the most famous of India's tourist attractions, it draws four million visitors annually.
Campaigners exist to protect the Taj Mahal, and according to the Daily Mail, they believe its foundations are compromised, having become brittle over the centuries. Evidence of structural problems include cracks that appeared in the structure last year, and signs that its four minarets are tilting.
Apparently the Taj Mahal stands on the edge of a now dried-up river, and the foundations are rotting due to lack of water.
"This was never anticipated by its builders," Professor Ram Nath, a historian and leading Taj Mahal authority told the Daily Mail. "The river is a constituent of its architectural design and if the river dies, the Taj cannot survive."
The Indian government has set up a body to deal with the preservation of this UNESCO World Heritage site. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/05/indias-taj-mahal-in-dange_...
Oct 5, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Man Killed in Somers, MA well collapse.
During a routine drilling the well collapsed and the victim was trapped 15 feet underground beneath dirt and mud.
Can't copy story.
http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2011/10/05/towns/somers/doc...
Oct 6, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045550/A320-pothole-leaves...
That sinking feeling: Car left stranded in giant pothole after burst water main causes road to collapse
Last updated at 10:02 AM on 6th October 2011
Many of us get that sinking feeling on the way to work. For this driver, however, the problem ran a little deeper.
As she made her way to her office, the ground opened up and swallowed her car.
Fortunately the motorist, who has not been named, was able to clamber out of the giant pothole, caused by a water main bursting below the road on the A320, between Woking and Chertsey in Surrey.
That sinking feeling: The silver Vauxhall Meriva was swallowed by the road on the A320 between Chertsey and Woking in Surrey because of a burst water main
Her silver Vauxhall Meriva was not so lucky, becoming submerged in the crater as tens of thousands of gallons of water gushed from the fractured pipe.
Witness Paul Rimmer said the rupture washed away layers of soil beneath the tarmac road surface, causing it to cave in.
He added: ‘The driver managed to get out while stuck quite far down in the hole and she walked off to work, leaving engineers to haul out the car.
‘However, the car then just sank lower and lower and then it started to fill up with water. She had a very lucky escape.’
The large pipe erupted at about 5am, flooding the busy road.
Hard to swallow: The silver hatchback fell into the huge pothole, leaving engineers to haul out the car
Rupture: The giant hole in the road was caused by a burst water main. The car's female driver had stopped after hearing a noise when the road gave way beneath her
The female motorist driving her hatchback had stopped her car after hearing a loud noise coming from the road.
In a matter of seconds, the road then gave way and swallowed her car up.
Police were called to the scene shortly afterwards and the road was then closed at around 7am.
The water was turned off by 8.30am, but the road remained closed on Wednesday lunchtime because of the substantial hole in the southbound carriageway.
Oct 6, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Boy killed in wall collapse
Kishore Raj (5) of Alapakkam, studying in St. Antony's Matriculation School located at Chinna Kanganakuppam, was killed when a portion of a bathroom wall in the school collapsed on him on Friday.
Another student, Harish (3), from Suzhiyankuppam in Puducherry, sustained fracture in the legs. Harish has been admitted to a private hospital in Puducherry.
VCK cadres blocked traffic on Cuddalore-Puducherry main road, seeking action against the “callous school management that paid least attention to the safety of students.” Government officials intervened and the protestors dispersed.
The school administration has agreed to give a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to Raj's family and bear the medical expenses of Harish
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2520239.ece
Oct 8, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Shed collapse injures two in Webster Township
Posted: Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 6 p.mTwo men were injured Saturday afternoon when a shed collapsed in the 4000 block of Farrell Road in Webster Township, fire officials said.
A construction worker was pouring concrete just after 12:15 p.m. when the shed fell on him, pinning him under it. Another individual at the scene was also injured.
The Dexter Area Fire Department was called to the scene. According to firefighter Lee Root, both men suffered injuries but they were not life-threatening.
They were both transported to the University of Michigan Hospital.
Further details were not available Saturday
http://www.annarbor.com/news/dexter/shed-collapse-injures-two-in-we...
Oct 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://news.yahoo.com/video/sandiegochannel8-15751279/sinkhole-doub...
Sinkhole doubles in size overnight
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 - KFMB San Diego 2:38 | 484 views
A huge sinkhole that formed on a Sorrento Valley street is getting bigger
It's now a road collapse, video in link
Oct 10, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Two hurt in Dedham deck collapse
Last modified Oct. 10, 2011, at 10:27 p.m.
DEDHAM, Maine — Two people were injured late Monday afternoon when a deck and stairway attached to the back of of a Bald Mountain Road garage gave way, causing them to plummet about 20 feet to the ground.
A third person fell but did not require a trip to the hospital, Assistant Chief Craig Shane of the Dedham Fire Department said Monday night.
Though Shane did not release the names of the people involved, he did say that those injured were a couple who reside in the apartment, located at 858 Bald Mountain Road. He said the injuries they suffered were not life-threatening.
“We were lucky that it turned out to be less serious than it initially sounded,” he said.
A LifeFlight helicopter initially was requested but was called off after the extent of the injuries was determined, Shane said. Instead, the injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment by Dedham fire and rescue personnel and Capital Ambulance.
Further information about their injuries and medical conditions was not immediately available Monday night, he said.
According to Shane, the incident occurred about 4:15 p.m. as the three were leaving the garage apartment.
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/10/news/hancock/two-hurt-in-dedh...
Oct 11, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Farmville Lake Road Spillway Collapses in Storm
In last week’s “Where is it?” (Page A3) we featured a photo of a spillway at the end of Farmville Lake Road. The spillway is at the end of the state maintained road and is part of the only easement to the three homes on the other side of the dam that holds back Farmville Lake.
On Friday morning, areas around Farmville reported as much as 4 inches of rain in a few hours. The resulting flooding closed streets in Farmville and flooded cars on Longwood University’s campus.
At Farmville Lake, however, the damage was more severe. At 9:00 a.m. there was more than 16 inches of fast moving water flowing over the spillway. Large fish were jumping from the water onto the banks in an attempt to escape the fast moving flow.
At 10:12 a.m., the concrete spillway collapsed, threatening to release the more than 12-acre lake downstream onto The Manor Golf Course.
Prince Edward County officials arrived shortly after, along with representatives from VDOT. Since the spillway is not part of a state maintained road, the decision about how to repair it falls on the owner of the lake, not on the county or state.
On Wednesday at press time, the level of the lake had returned to normal and it doesn’t appear that the lake will drain at this time. See more photos on Page A2.
CAPTION: Above: This photo was taken at 10:12AM on Friday, September 23 moments after the spillway began to collapse. While the damage is severe, it appears that the lake will maintain its level.
http://www.southsidemessenger.com/articles/2011/09/30/news/top_stor...
This is a couple weeks ago but the before and after pix show the extreme pressure of water destroying the road.
Oct 11, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Sinkholes Form At Marion Schools, Home
3 Marion County Schools Will Remain Open
MARION COUNTY, Fla. -- After a weekend of heavy rain, sinkholes formed at three Marion County schools and one home, where a sport utility vehicle was swallowed.The school board said the most serious is at the bus loop of Ward Highlands Elementary School.The other two are at Vanguard High School and Howard Middle School. Both are in retention pond areas and have been roped off.All three schools will remain open.Meanwhile, Beth Antis, said her family is waiting until Tuesday to try to tow her Dodge Durango out of the huge sinkhole in her driveway.She said she heard cracking around 5 a.m. Monday and then water gushing into the hole.She said the water that had flooded her front yard, gushed into the hole."It sounded like Niagara Falls," Antis said.She said they were told it's too dangerous to stay in the house.
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/29444396/detail.html
Oct 11, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Road delays after wall collapse in Sheffield
News: Bringing you news 24-hours a day.
Published on Tuesday 11 October 2011 12:49
COMMUTERS suffered delays this afternoon after a busy main road was partially closed when a section of wall collapsed at the boundary of a Sheffield school.
A three metre section of wall fell down and part of the pavement disappeared by a bus stop on Glossop Road, next to King Edward VII upper school in Broomhill.
No one was injured in the incident.
One lane of the road going up to Broomhill is closed with diversions put in place by police along Whitham Road.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/road_delays_after_wall...
Oct 11, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1067886--1-dead-2-trapped-after...
1 dead, 5 injured in construction accident at York University
Police said that the excavating equipment toppled on a construction site on York Blvd. near Keele St. and that the incident was classified as an industrial accident..
CTV TorontoOne person was killed and five others injured after a piece of construction equipment collapsed at York University.
Emergency Medical Services confirmed that one worker at the scene died.
That worker and another were initially trapped beneath the equipment, which collapsed at a construction site on York Blvd. near Keele St. at about 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, police said.
The worker who was trapped but alive was freed by emergency workers and transported to Sunnybrook hospital, police said.
The accident happened at the site of the future subway station at the university, Toronto Transit Commission spokesman Brad Ross confirmed.
“It is our project but we contracted the work out,” he said.
A contractor has been working on the University-Spadina extension line at York U for months.
Ross said he did not yet know how many workers were at the scene when the accident happened. “We know they were doing excavation.”
The accident is causing traffic and transit disruptions. Police said Steeles Ave. is open, but drivers can expect delays as traffic clears the area during rush hour.
The campus TTC bus loop at York and Ian MacDonald Blvds. is closed, and the following routes are diverting or letting off passengers near the school: 35E, 41, 60, 106, 107, 108 and 196.
An Ornge medical helicopter landed in a field at the southeast corner of Keele St. and Steeles Ave. at 3:15 p.m. It is expected to leave shortly.
An inspector from the provincial Ministry of Labour is at the scene, said a spokesperson. An engineer will also be deployed, added William Lin.
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Growing Sinkhole Threatens Home Destruction in Stafford
Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 | Updated 8:31 AM EDT
Aaron Gilchrist
A sinkhole in Stafford, Va. has already swallowed several decks and now threatens to destroy homes. News4's Aaron Gilchrist learned how the community is helping to save the homes.
A sinkhole that opened up early last month in Stafford is growing, and threatens to swallow up two homes.
Ora Barnes and Dan O'Leary, who own the two houses on Brush Everard Court, are hoping an engineering firm can offer them a solution to the slow-moving landslide. The sliding dirt has already swept most of their backyards down hill.
The sinkhole, approximately 100-feet wide and 30-feet deep, developed after days of heavy rain in early September.
Stafford County officials deemed the so hole so dangerous the two homes have been condemned. In the second week of September, a chain link fence topped by barbed wire went up around both properties, to keep curious onlookers from wandering around back and falling off the cliff.
Geotechnical engineers are on site drilling 65 foot deep holes to take soil and water samples to try to figure out what to do next. The evaluation will cost $15,000.
The homeowners said after consulting attorneys, they have discovered the monetary burden to fix the problem is all on them. A local church, Ebenezer United Methodist, has come to their aid, collecting donations.
The engineers' evaluation could take several weeks.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Growing-Sinkhole-Threatens-...
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Big Woody's, closed over sinkhole damage, expected to open by the end of October
Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 4:47 AM Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:39 AM
Big Woody’s Sports Bar and Restaurant is on track to open by the end of the month, according to its landlord.
The business in the Sullivan Trail strip mall near Zucksville Road closed in August after sinkholes opened up in the parking lot.
Landlord Joe Posh previously said he would be seeking help with repair costs from the Easton Suburban Water Authority if the holes opened up due to a water main break. They opened up around the time of torrential rains from Hurricane Irene, and may have opened due to the stormwater.
Posh said Monday the cracks in the business’ siding and undermining its foundation could be a sign of damage caused by ruptured water lines.
The cluster of cracks and cavities — about seven of them — are yet to be filled in and cover about 50 to 60 square feet behind the strip mall, Posh said.
An Easton Suburban Water Authority spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
About 2,000 gallons of water were lost due to a main break on the site. The restaurant cannot reopen until a structural engineer determines it is safe.
Trevor Wayward, professional geologist with Gilmore & Associates, assessed the damage in August on behalf of the township. He said several factors could cause foundations to unsettle, including the underlying bedrock in the Lehigh Valley, a limestone corridor. Wayward said there are definite sinkhole-related features in the road near the Big Woody’s property,
Township Manager Richard Schnaedter said the water authority could be to blame for the holes.
Posh has since hired Earth Engineering Inc. to assess damage. Paul J. Creneti, director at Earth Engineering, did not immediately return a phone call for comment.
Geologists have estimated it would cost at least $50,000 to repair the damage.
The other merchants in the strip mall — Supercuts, Ivy Cleaners, a vacant building that had housed CC Wireless and Jasmine Japanese and Thai Cuisine — have reopened. Posh said Big Woody’s owners are remodeling the interior and exterior of the building.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2011/10/engineers_...
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/School-wall-collapse...
School wall collapses, 12-yr-old battles for life
Alka Panse | Oct 12, 2011, 06.43AM ISTNAGPUR: Four students were injured when a seven-foot high compound wall of Manoramabai Mundle Dharampeth Marathi Primary School on North Ambazari road collapsed on Tuesday.
One of the injured, 12-year-old Shruti Harde, received serious head injuries and her face was fractured. Shrutias condition is stated to be critical and is battling for for life at a private hospital at Shankar Nagar.
The incident took place around 11.45 am when Shruti and her friends were playing near the compound wall. Shruti, though a seventh standard student of Dharampeth Tarkunde Boysa High School and Junior College, was playing on the premises of Manoramabai Mundle Dharampeth Marathi Primary School.
The school authorities informed that since the school is a centre for 10th board exam, pre-primary classes get over by 11 am. After school, Shruti, who has been staying with her uncle at SRPF camp, was waiting for SRPF bus.
The campuses of primary, pre-primary and junior college are connected to each other. Shruti and her friends went to play on the primary school premises, said Sudha Raut, principal of primary school.
According to an eyewitness Mahesh Shende, Shruti was trying to climb the wall and suddenly the wall collapsed. Her friends escaped with minor injuries but Shruti was trapped under the debris of collapsed wall. asBricks showered on her head and face. Except part of her legs, she was buried under bricks,a? said Mahesh, who immediately rescued the girl by removing the bricks from her face.
The school authorities rushed injured Shruti to a private hospital.
School calls it mere accident, parents blame authorities
Alka PanseNagpur: The parents of Shruti Harde, who was critically injured during wall collapse of Manoramabai Mundle Dharampeth Marathi Primary School, blamed old and weak compound wall responsible for the accident. However, the school authorities termed it just an accident and declined to accept that the wall collapsed due to poor maintenance.
story continues...
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
First a rumble, then pavement next to Sheffield bus stop disappears
Wall collapse at King Edward VII School
Published on Wednesday 12 October 2011 03:34
WITNESSES heard a deep rumbling noise before an entire section of pavement next to a Sheffield bus stop collapsed into the ground yesterday.
Nobody was waiting at the normally busy bus stop when the pavement started to crack and the footpath disappeared.
The landslide happened as a three metre section of stone wall forming a boundary to King Edward VII upper school fell down - and took the pavement on Glossop Road in Broomhill down with it.
The school is currently undergoing £22 million of construction work, refurbishment and rebuilding.
Cheryl Wall, from the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic opposite, said: “There is a very big gap where the pavement has collapsed. It’s amazing no-one was standing at the bus stop at the time.”
A worker at The Rutland Hotel across the road said she had heard a rumbling noise before the pavement fell in and the wall collapsed at around 1.45pm yesterday.
“It’s a biggish section of wall and the pavement next to it has just gone,” she said.
One lane of Glossop Road heading to Broomhill had to be closed while the area was sealed off, and police diversions were put in place along Whitham Road. The road had to be shut for a further 15 minutes yesterday evening so another section of unsafe wall could be demolished.
First buses diverted journeys from Fulwood via Endcliffe and Clarkehouse Road, omitting Broomhill, and doubling back to serve the hospital.
King Edward VII headteacher Bev Jackson said workers from the school’s contractors, Vinci, had been monitoring the wall every day to check there had been no movement caused by the building works.
“It’s a mystery - although there has been a lot of rain this week on dry ground and that could be a factor,” she said.
“There’s a lot of rubble which has fallen down towards the school but that is all. But it is lucky that no-one was working in the area and that no-one was at the bus stop.”
She said the collapse appeared to be a ‘freak of nature
http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/first_a_rumble_then_pavement_nex...
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Utah, Massive landslide closes road
- Posted by Sevan Makaracı on October 12, 2011 at 3:33pm
- http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705392340/Massive-landslide-clos...
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/111011001/Landsl...|topnews|text|FrontpageCEDAR CITY — A massive weekend landslide closed a state highway east of Cedar City and is forcing Utah transportation officials to the sky to map the damage.
Utah Department of Transportation Officials say the slide happened over a section of state Route 14 about eight miles east of Cedar City. It is 1,700 feet in length and moved over 100 feet down slope, containing roughly 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt, rock, vegetation and debris. In one location, transportation officials report, the slide is 100 feet deep and it will likely take three to four months before the roadway reopens.
The landslide has the Cedar City/Brian Head Tourism Bureau suggesting alternate routes for travelers. Visitors and travelers wishing to see Cedar Breaks National Monument, state Route 143 via Parowan and Brian Head offers a direct route to several views before connecting to state Route 148. Although the visitor center and campground services are now closed at Cedar Breaks, the viewpoints will remain open until the road closes after snowfall prohibits traffic to the area.
From the north, another access point to Bryce Canyon from I-15 is state Route 20. That route connects to U.S. 89 and state Route 12 to Bryce Canyon.
Oct 12, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/wall_c...
Wall collapse causes traffic chaos
Published on Wednesday 12 October 2011 03:09
Drivers in Sheffield ran into traffic chaos yesterday afternoon after a high stone wall on one of the city’s major roads collapsed.
The 6ft wall, which runs alongside King Edward VII School and Language College in Broomhill, fell down at about 1.45pm.
Rubble was left strewn across much of Glossop Road and covering sections of pavement next to a bus stop.
No one was injured in the incident.
Vinci Construction is currently carrying out major works at the secondary school under Sheffield’s Building Schools for the Future scheme. The works, being carried out in three phases, include refurbishment of its grade II-listed building, and new buildings including a sports hall and science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) centre.
The collapse exposed gas pipes in Glossop Road and led to the road being closed to traffic heading towards the city centre.
Drivers heading towards Sheffield were diverted via Whitham Road and Western Bank.
Oct 13, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/car_crushed_as_wall_co...
Car crushed as wall collapses onto road
Flood Damage: Windsor Road in Fairfield remains closed after the collapse of a front garden wall and damage to a parked car following overnight rain.
Thursday 13 October 2011 12:34
TONNES of masonry and earth crashed on to a busy pedestrian route in Buxton this week, crushing one car and damaging another.
Heavy rain caused a landslide which led to a retaining wall at a property on Windsor Road to collapse onto a Vauxhall Astra and a Ford Fiesta at just after 10pm on Tuesday night. And parts of the wall, which was around eight foot tall, had also fallen into the road, which remained closed as the Buxton Advertiser went to press.
The Vauxhall Astra was written off by the impact. However, no one was injured. The wall was the border of the garden at the property.
Despite a bright start to October, when the weather was unseasonably warm, the High Peak has suffered torrential rain for several days. And the Buxton Weather website shows that 92mm of rain has already fallen in the first two weeks of the month compared to 110mm for the whole of the month of October last year. The Met Office are predicting drier spells in the next few days.
The heavy rain has also seen levels of the River Wye in the Pavilion Gardens rise significantly.
And with the weather set to get more unsettled as winter approaches, insurance price comparison site Confused.com last week revealed that storm-related home insurance claims have risen by 68 per cent overall in the last year.
Research by the company showed that storms, lightning strikes and falling trees are among the issues claimed for over the last 12 months and the company are reminding people to check their home insurance policies to make sure they are covered for adverse weather.
Oct 14, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
The damage to the building caused a dentist and a well known financial institution to close down, as they were also affected.
The residents and witnesses said they were shocked by a loud bang around midday on Saturday when a part of the building on Prince George Avenue and Voortrekker Road fell down. The building was being renovated to create space for shops on the ground floor.
A representative of Tollip, Cowling and Janeke Attorneys said: “At the moment we cannot do anything. We have no phone lines and no internet.”
The representative said they were assessing the damage caused by the collapse of the floor.
Gustav Fourie of the construction company that was working on the building said the first floor collapsed while they were renovating.
“Luckily no one was injured,” he said. “We are busy clearing the rubble away and then it will be determined what caused the collapse.”
Fourie said that when they were done with their work they would make the building, which was built in 1905, “more beautiful than it ever was”.
http://www.thenewage.co.za/31953-1008-53-Building_collapses_in_Brakpan
Oct 14, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.baltictimes.com/
Oct 17, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
14 hurt in airport building collapse
October 18 2011 at 12:34pm
The sound of screeching metal, screaming workers and the thud of tons of bricks hitting the ground was what sent nearby business owners and workers throughout Rand Airport Park running to the road where an entire construction team was almost killed.
Fourteen construction workers were injured, four of whom critically, after the mid-section of the factory they were building caved in, sending tonnes of steel and bricks flying, almost burying some of the team on Tuesday.
A column holding up the mid-section of the building collapsed as 12 of the workers were pouring concrete on the seemingly insecure roof.
Donovan Strecker, who works at a nearby hangar was one of the first on the scene after he happened to be driving by just after the collapse. Strecker had first noticed a medic who allegedly worked on the premises running blindly across the road towards the accident scene. “He was on his phone and trying to remove some of the rubble,” said Strecker.
Shortly after, the bevy of Netcare and Emergency Services arrived on the scene, where they began to unearth some of the trapped and injured workers. It took almost an hour for the stabilisation of all 14 workers.
According to Netcare 911 spokesman, Jeff Wicks, all four critically injured men had numerous fractures and other injuries after being hit with large amounts of debris. Two of the men were taken to the nearby Union Hospital, with the other two taken to Milpark Hospital. The other 12 were also taken to Union Hospital for treatment.
Elize Viljoen, who also works in the area, said the construction had started just two or three months ago. Signs for the construction team’s structural engineers, All A Steel, were plastered on the fence in front of the site, and according to nearby business owners they had worked on numerous buildings in the area. - The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/14-hurt-in-airport-b...
Oct 18, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Partial building collapse in Palestine
Posted: Oct 18, 2011 1:26 PM
PALESTINE, TX (KLTV)- Road closures are in effect after part of a building suddenly collapsed Tuesday in Palestine.
It happened around 11 a.m. downtown--near the intersection of Houston and E. Oak Street.
People who live and work nearby said they could feel the ground shaking for blocks.
Click here for a before and after slideshow!
"It was this real deep rumble. The building shook, the lights flickered.. It was scary," said Chris Gouras.
Gouras lives right next door to the Ivanhoe number 15.. The building that's roof collapsed.
He says the rubble coming down made so much noise he had no idea what he was hearing..
"I ran out and opened the door and all I saw was rubble and the dust from it blowing away," he said.
Some said they thought a train de-railed. Others said they wondered if it was an earthquake.
"It was like 20 transformers blowing all at once," Gouras said.
"The building official was actually driving by when it collapsed and was just less than a block away. He saw a big cloud of smoke and turned around to come back and look at it," said Fire Marshal Alan Wilcher.
Officials said they aren't sure what caused the collapse right now. They're waiting for the wind to die down so they can send a ladder truck up to investigate.
"It looks like it's weather related. It looks like maybe the torrential rains we had here the last couple of days played a part in it, but we don't know for a fact until we can get up there and look at it," Wilcher said.
They said some water is leaking from the building but they don't know yet if that contributed to the collapse or is a result of it.
Whatever the reason behind the collapse, Gouras said he is glad everyone is o.k.
"Very grateful. The only thing that happened was one of the pieces of stone up top went through the window," he said.
And as scary as it was, Gouras said he knows things could have been a lot worse.
http://www.ktre.com/story/15722141/partial-building-collapse-in-pal...
Oct 19, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Humane Society president dies in Ramapo shed collapse
RAMAPO — Raymond Mundy, the longtime president of the Hudson Valley Humane Society, was killed Tuesday when the roof of a shed he was renovating collapsed on top of him.
Mundy, 68, had been seen by neighbors working on the building, which sat adjacent to his large, white home on Route 306 in the unincorporated section of Ramapo. The road was closed for several hours for an investigation.
Ann Marie Gaudio, executive vice president of the Hudson Valley Humane Society, knew Mundy for more than a dozen years.
"Everyone who knew Ray is devastated," Gaudio said. "We lost a superior human being. We lost someone who really believed in empathy — empathy for animals, empathy for people. The man had a heart of gold."
Mundy had called his wife, Judy, on Tuesday afternoon to tell her he was going out to work on the shed. She found Mundy pinned under the collapsed building when she returned from work later in the day.
Several neighbors expressed sadness about Mundy's death, with one recalling how Mundy had helped turn on electricity for him after the Jewish Sabbath began. Another neighbor, Zishe Miller, said Mundy had happily let others place lights along a path that passed through his property and served as a shortcut connecting neighborhoods.
Oct 19, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
‘Miraculous’ escape for Mucklagh priest
Mucklagh Priest has narrow escape after a tree fell on the Toyota Prius he was traveling in at Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co. Offaly yesterday. Picture: Ger Rogers/HR Photo.
Published on Wednesday 19 October 2011 06:32
AN Offaly priest had a ‘miraculous’ escape when a tree collapsed and destroyed his car as he drove through his parish on Monday afternoon.
Still shaken from the experience, Mucklagh Curate Fr John McEvoy said, “I must be the luckiest man in Ireland. I shouldn’t be here.”
Fr McEvoy’s Toyota Prius was written off when a large tree branch struck his car as he drove through Mucklagh at about 2pm. “The impact pushed the car out into the middle of the road,” Fr McEvoy explained.
He wasn’t aware of the tree falling until it hit. The collapse caused considerable damage to the car and deposited a large chunk of wood on the passenger seat. “It’s unbelievable, that’s all I can say,” Fr McEvoy remarked.
Luckily there was no other traffic on the road at the time, “if there was anybody behind they would have gotten it worse than me,” he explained.
“It could have been a different story and maybe it should have been a different story, but whatever intervention is up there I’m still here,” he said, adding, “it’s miraculous.”
Describing the event as incredible, Fr McEvoy said he escaped from the car with just a scratch on the back of his hand.
“It is unbelievable, the two ambulance personnel are still shaking their heads. They came out more or less expecting to have to cut me out of the car,” he said.
Fr McEvoy was able to get himself out of the car without assistance. He was checked over by the ambulance men before returning home to say a few prayers and he quickly returned to his parish duties.
The car was removed from the scene which was cleared after about an hour. Fr McEvoy said the “car is no more” but “I don’t care
http://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/local/miraculous_escape_for_muckla...
Trees falling out of the blue now.
Oct 19, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Workers hurt as factory collapses
October 19 2011 at 10:00am
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
Emergency workers attend to one of 14 construction workers injured at a building site in Viking Way, Germiston. Photo: Chris Collingridge
A construction team narrowly escaped death when a column supporting the roof of a Germiston factory collapsed, injuring 14 people.
On Tuesday morning, the sound of screeching metal and the crash of tons of bricks brought nearby business owners and workers running to a factory under construction opposite Rand Airport.
Fourteen construction workers were hurt, four of them critically, when the mid-section of the factory they were building caved in.
The accident caused tons of steel and bricks to fall, burying some of the construction team under the debris.
It appears that a column holding up the mid-section of the building collapsed just as 12 of the workers were pouring concrete on the roof of the section, which was not secure.
Donovan Strecker, who works at a nearby hangar, was one of the first on the scene as he happened to be driving by at the time of the collapse.
Strecker had first noticed a medic, who apparently worked near the accident scene, running blindly into the road towards the building. The man had been in a panic and had been trying to alert the authorities about the accident. “He was on his phone and (also) trying to remove some of the rubble,” Strecker said.
Soon afterwards, rescue workers from Netcare and Emergency Management Services arrived on the scene, where they began to dig out the trapped workers.
It took almost an hour to stabilise all 14 workers, who were then taken to hospital.
According to Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks, the four critically injured men had fractures and other serious injuries caused by the falling objects.
Two of the four were taken to the nearby Union Hospital and the other two were went to Milpark Hospital.
Later Wicks reported that the four men were in a stable condition and had no life-threatening injuries.
The less seriously injured men were taken to Union Hospital for treatment. Many of them were released shortly after being examined.
Elize Viljoen, who works at a nearby hangar, said construction had started two or three months ago.
Signs for the construction team’s structural engineers, All A Steel, were plastered on the fence in front of the site.
Nearby business owners said All A Steel had worked on several buildings in the area, but no such accident had occurred before. The company was unavailable for comment
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/workers-hurt-as-fact...
Oct 19, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Sussex Drivers Worry Dune Erosion Could Lead to Highway Collapse
Updated: Oct 18, 2011Oct 20, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Landslide forces highway closure
MONTREAL - A 30-metre stretch of Highway 133 in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu is closed after a landslide caused the road bed to collapse Thursday morning.
The Sureté du Québec was called to the scene around 10 a.m., said spokesperson Geneviève Bruno.
“There were no collisions and no cars that went off the road,” she said.
The SQ immediately closed the stretch of highway and redirected traffic.
According to Christine Savard, regional director for public security in the Montéregie and Estrie regions, one of three homes along the road facing the damage was evacuated. The stretch of road runs parallel to the Richelieu River, but it's unclear if the proximity to the water had anything to do with the landslide. Both of the two lanes that run along the bank of Richelieu River appeared to have sunken and crumbled according to TV footage, leaving hydro polls suspended from their wires at the water’s edge.
Savard said specialists were on the scene Thursday evening, and that the highway would remain closed indefinitely. The roadway is maintained by the transportation ministry, and repairs to a serious crack in the road were underway when it collapsed, Savard said.
"Our concern was the security of the residents" she said. "The one residence affected is not in danger, so the family has been notified that they can go back to their home."
She said it was too early to begin drawing parallels to a landslide in nearby St. Jude which swallowed a house and killed an entire family in the spring of 2010.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Landslide+forces+highway+closur...
Oct 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/20/3219253/man-hurt-in-scaffoldin...
Man hurt in scaffolding collapse
One man was taken to a hospital today after three workers fell about 20 feet when scaffolding gave way outside a Kansas City office building.
Kansas City firefighters were called around 11:35 a.m. to the building at 63rd Street and Rockhill Road. They reported that the men were working outside the building and fell onto a roof above the ground.
The man who was taken to the hospital suffered non-life threatening injuries. The two other workers declined medical treatment.
Oct 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Stretch+Highway+along+Richelieu...
Stretch of Highway 133 along Richelieu collapses
A 30-metre stretch of Highway 133 in St. Denis sur Richelieu is closed after a landslide caused the roadbed to collapse Thursday morning.
The Sûreté du Québec was called to the scene around 10 a.m., said spokesperson Geneviève Bruno.
"There were no collisions and no cars that went off the road," she said.
The SQ closed the highway and redirected traffic, while the transport and public security departments investigate.
Both of the two lanes that run along the bank of Richelieu River appeared to have sunken and crumbled, according to TV footage, leaving hydro polls suspended from their wires at the water's edge.
One home on the road facing the damage was evacuated.
Landslide takes out Quebec road
No one injured as ground under road collapses into Richelieu River
CBC News
Oct 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/10/20/metro/road-c...
Road collapse makes a mess of traffic
KATHMANDU, OCT 20 -
A portion of the road constructed on the banks of Bagmati River linking Sinamangal with Tilganga at Sinamangal collapsed whilst the construction of a new bridge. Vehicular movement on the 1.5 km road has been restricted following the damage on Saturday.
According to the officials at Department of Road (DoR) Kathmandu division, the road was torn asunder by Bagmati waters while constructing a foundation for the new bridge.
“The heavy water flow during the bridge construction weakened the road’s foundation and led to its collapse,” said Kathmandu DoR chief Gopal Khadka. “Some 30-metre diameter of the road has been damaged, which has disrupted traffic from Old Baneshwor to Tilganga.”
Khadka said pedestrian movement has been restricted too, fearing possible rupture as the land withholding the road has developed many cracks. “The road will be repaired and brought into operation in a week.”
The road damage has more affected the entire traffic system in Sinamangal, Gaushala and Old Baneshwor routes and also local people who were already hit when the Bagmati river bridge collapsed in 2009 at Sinamangal, say traffic police.
“The road damage has increased vehicle pressure at various places,” said SP Jagat Man Shrestha, spokesman of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD). “The vehicles coming from Sinamangal are being diverted towards Tinkune and Airport area, whereas the vehicles from Old Baneshwor are being sent to Battisputali or Baneshwor.”
The Bagmati bridge constructed some 46 years ago had collapsed after unchecked illegal extraction of sand from the river.
According to DoR officials, the new bridge might come into operation by the end of this fiscal year. “Public are compelled to travel the long distance following the damage. So we are committed to complete the project as soon as possible.”
Oct 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.njherald.com/story/news/Route-209
The Poconos
Superintendent John Donahue said the highway will be closed from the park’s North Contact Station, just south of Milford, to the intersection of Route 739 at Dingman’s Ferry and motorists should plan to use alternative routes, such as Milford Road from Milford to get to Route 739 or crossing into New Jersey to take Old Mine Road from Route 206 to get to the Dingmans Ferry Bridge.
The failure was along a 150-yard segment of the road at mile marker 15, about two miles north of Route 739.
The embankment on the east side of the road has slumped, the pavement has begun to separate – evidenced by large cracks in the surface – and large voids have developed under the pavement.
In some places, the road has dropped by approximately six inches.
Federal Highways Administration engineers were on site today and determined the road is unsafe for motor vehicles.
It is likely that this year’s record rainfall, along with the impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, has caused the problems.
A timetable to make emergency repairs has not been established.
Raymondskill Road, a connecting road between State Route 2001 and Route 209, will be closed to through traffic. However, it will remain open from State Route 2001 to Raymondskill Falls, allowing park visitors to access the Raymondskill Falls and Cliff Park trails.
Visitors will be able to park outside of the closed section of Route 209 and walk to park lands to hike, hunt and fish.
Oct 22, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://wusa9.com/news/article/171732/373/Trench-Collapse-Traps-Work...
Trench Collapse Traps Workers In Alexandria
6:57 PM, Oct 21, 2011 | comments
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- According to Fairfax County Fire dispatch, some contract workers were trapped after a trench collapsed Friday afternoon. The fire crew got the call around 4:30 p.m. to respond to 4131 Conrad Road in Alexandria.
The two workers were stuck up to their waists, maybe deeper in a backyard.
The workers were rescued around 6:15 p.m.
Oct 22, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/4-yr-old-bldg-colla...
Mumbai, October 26, 2011
Among the five women who died were Shaira Shaikh, 22; Naushad Shaikh, 18; and Sana Shaikh, 18. The building, whose
Civic officials and local residents traded blame over the collapse. “It was a three-storey unauthorised structure. Additional construction was done on the building without the civic body’s permission,” said Achyut Hange, Bhiwandi-Nizampura Municpal Corporation commissioner. When it was constructed in 2007, the building was one-storeyed. Two more floors were added in the following years. In March, the corporation certified the building as dangerous and issued an eviction notice to its residents. “But the other party obtained a stay order,” Hange said.
Residents, on the other hand, blamed former corporator Sayyed Naseer for the collapse. Rukhsana Anari, whose 70-year-old mother moved in to a third-flloor flat in the building six months ago attributed the collapse to poor quality of construction. “The land belonged to one Jagdish, but the construction was done by former corporator Sayyed Naseer. Both are to be blamed,” Anari said.
The injured were rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Bhiwandi, from where seven were shifted to Thane Civil Hospital. At least 25 persons were trapped inside the rubble at the time of going to press and local officials feared that the number of casualties could rise. Three JCB machines, one crane and two fire engines were pressed into service. The National Disaster Response Force and a team from Mumbai and Thane have also been called in for the rescue operation. Those injured include workers of a plastic factory located on the ground floor of the building.
Oct 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Coffins unearthed by Howth wall collapse
CÍAN NIHILL
FLOOD AFTERMATH: THE COLLAPSE of an old wall in a Dublin cemetery following heavy rainfall on Monday night left a number of coffins exposed as the ground subsided.
Residents of a block of seaside apartments on the Harbour Road in Howth, which borders the St Mary’s Abbey cemetery, awoke yesterday to the sight of at least two coffins sticking out of the earth.
Fingal County Council evacuated 10 of the apartments in the Boyd House block citing “risk of further earth collapse”. A spokeswoman said those affected had been contacted door to door where possible and hotel accommodation was being arranged for residents without an alternative.
“Owners of four shop units to the front of the apartment block have been advised to close their premises and keep them closed until further notice, until the full extent of the public safety risk can be established,” she said.
The cemetery holds a number of famous graves and is listed on goireland.com as one of eight cemeteries worth visiting in Dublin.
“The ‘Stranger’s Bank’ at old Saint Mary’s Abbey was used for unidentified victims of disasters at sea,” the website says.
“When the Dollymount to Howth tram line was built in the last years of the 19th century, an unknown ‘ganger’ died during work and was also buried here. Colleagues set up two tram rails as a memorial to him here...”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1026/1224306505645...
Oct 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
PALESTINE, TX (KLTV)- Road closures are in effect after part of a building suddenly collapsed Tuesday in Palestine.
It happened around 11 a.m. downtown-- near the intersection of Houston and E. Oak Street.
People who live and work nearby said they could feel the ground shaking for blocks.
"It was this real deep rumble. The building shook, the lights flickered.. It was scary," said Chris Gouras.
Gouras lives right next door to the ivanhoe number 15.. The building that's roof collapsed.
He says the rubble coming down made so much noise he had no idea what he was hearing..
"I ran out and opened the door and all I saw was rubble and the dust from it blowing away," he said.
Some said they thought a train de-railed. Others said they wondered if it was an earthquake.
"It was like 20 transformers blowing all at once," Gouras said.
"The building official was actually driving by when it collapsed and was just less than a block away. He saw a big cloud of smoke and turned around to come back and look at it," said Fire Marshal Alan Wilcher.
Officials said they aren't sure what caused the collapse right now. They're waiting for the wind to die down so they can send a ladder truck up to investigate.
"It looks like it's weather related. It looks like maybe the torrential rains we had here the last couple of days played a part in it, but we don't know for a fact until we can get up there and look at it," Wilcher said.
They said some water is leaking from the building but they don't know yet if that contributed to the collapse or is a result of it.
Whatever the reason behind the collapse, Gouras said he is glad everyone is o.k.
"Very grateful. The only thing that happened was one of the pieces of stone up top went through the window," he said.
And as scary as it was, Gouras said he knows things could have been a lot worse.
For now, Houston Street at E. Oak and Avenue A are closed. Officials said they anticipate those roads saying closed for at least a couple of days.
http://palestine.kltv.com/news/news/71918-building-roof-collapses-c...
Oct 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Dalston crane cab collapse man rescued
Firefighters have rescued a man who collapsed in his crane cab, 100ft (30m) off the ground in north-east London.
About 20 firefighters were called to the scene in Hertford Road, Dalston, on Wednesday morning.
They used the crane's ladders to get to him and gave him first aid. They then used ropes and other specialist equipment to lower him to the ground.
The London Ambulance Service said it treated a 49-year-old man who was unwell. He was then taken to hospital
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15459087
Oct 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Vehicles trapped in Tibet road collapse
October 26 2011 at 05:07pm
Beijing- Part of one of the main roads linking remote Tibet with the outside world has collapsed following heavy rain, trapping hundreds of vehicles but causing no casualties, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday.
A 50-metre long section of the road, which snakes through the mountains to connect Tibet with the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, collapsed in Bomi County, Xinhua cited local police as saying.
“Rescuers were rushing to dig another road through the mountains to evacuate the cars and people as it will take too long to repair the collapsed road,” the news agency added. “It is not known when traffic will resume.”
The road was once the only way in or out of Tibet, Xinhua said. The government has since built a railway to the remote and restive Chinese region, along with other roads.- Reuters
http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/vehicles-trapped-in-tibet-road-...
Oct 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Road section collapses into 5-meter long hole
A man checks out a piece of collapsed road at Hengfeng Road and Chang'an Road, close to the Shanghai Railway Station, yesterday. The pit, 5 meters long and 2 meters wide, is as deep as 2 meters. The cave-in happened about noon.
A large piece of road surface in a busy downtown intersection collapsed suddenly yesterday in Shanghai, severely disrupting traffic but causing no injuries.
The local urban facility maintenance department said that loose sand and soil beneath the road likely was to blame. Workers were still doing the repair work yesterday afternoon.
The collapse was spotted about noon at Hengfeng Road and Chang'an Road, near the Shanghai Railway Station.
"Just in a glimpse, the road surface disappeared," said a witness, surnamed Zhang.
The hole, about 10 square meters and located in the middle of the intersection, was about 2 meters deep.
Police said no vehicle was passing by when the collapse occurred. Two lanes were closed to traffic with officers guiding the vehicle flow.
Officials with Zhabei District's work maintenance company said the area "has long been bothered by poor geological conditions."
The road surface was just paved with new asphalt on Wednesday night to cover a depressed area of the road, about 25-centimeters deep, detected earlier.
It's suspected that an underground wastewater pipeline broke and the water carried dirt and sand away, undermining the road.
Lots of problems. continued
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Metro/2011/10/28/Road%2Bsection%2B...
Oct 28, 2011