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
A portion of Circuit House road in the city collapsed into a 33-foot foundation ditch yesterday morning when underground piling work on the site of an under-construction nearby building caved in.
Several cracks developed on the road opposite the office of the deputy commissioner (traffic south) at around 8:00am while an excavator was digging out mud for the foundation work of the 10-storey building on plot no 5.
Two hours after the digging began, the concrete pillars of the road protection piling collapsed on the excavator, burying it under mud and debris from the collapsed four-foot of the 24-foot wide road.
The operator of the excavator, however, managed to save himself.
No casualty has been reported. But local people living in nearby high-rises buildings went into a state of panic.
Sheikh Abdul Mannan, member planning of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), said a total of 33-foot of earth was dug up for the foundation work while pillars were set under 51-foot of piling which was not adequate for such a high-rise structure.
The owner of the under-construction building, Monzurur Rahman, obtained approval from Rajuk on July 25 last year, said another official of Rajuk. But he did not inform Rajuk about site inspection before starting construction work, mandatory even after such approval is granted.
Though there is a rule about informing Rajuk of construction work 15 days before it commences, in this case the owner did not inform the building authorities, said Khalekuzzaman Chowdhury, authorised officer-4 of Rajuk.
"We could not reach the owner till 6:00pm as his mobile set was switched off," he said.
All the workers fled the site immediately after the accident. Neither the owner nor his family members were to be seen when this correspondent visited the site at noon.
A visit to the area in the afternoon revealed that more cracks had developed in the middle of the remaining portion of the road, which construction experts say could make other big structures nearby vulnerable.
“The buildings around the accident site could be at risk if proper measures are not taken,” said a former chief engineer of Rajuk seeking anonymity.
The decades old two-storey building is just 10-foot away from the nearest cracks in the middle of Circuit House road and remains at most risk, he said.
Police blocked off the road just after the incident and had to wait for six hours for the crisis management team of Rajuk to arrive on the scene.
As there was no crisis management unit of Rajuk, they had to depend and wait for the help of the army to take measures to stop a further collapse, said a Rajuk official.
Later, a team of army engineering corps reached the spot at around 2:45pm and started working to protect it from further collapse
Jan 16, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Slab collapses in Saraspur, 22 injured and one killed in the incident
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Slab-collapses-in...
TNN | Jan 17, 2012, 03.34AMHMEDABAD: One woman died and 22 others were injured when a building's slab collapsed in Saraspur on Monday evening. The incident took place during the burial of a religious leader of Dawoodi Bohra community in Saraspur. Police officials said that the injured were rushed to Shardaben Hospital and V S Hospital soon after the incident.
According to Shaherkotda police officials, the incident took place at 5.15 pm at Musafirkhana of the community near the cemetery. Sajjad Hira, a community leader, told TOI, "Our religious leader Saiyedna's son Hujaifa, 65, died of a heart attack on a visit to Saraspur Roza. His last rites were conducted at a cemetery in Saraspur. During his funeral procession, devotees wanted to have a last look at his mortal remains and had gathered in large numbers at Musafirkhana building," he said.
Soon several were climbing up the three-storey building's terrace to have a better look. During the commotion, the slab gave away and fell on the second floor balcony which also had people watching the burial.
"Fortunately, it did not collapse entirely. Hence people on second floor balcony did not suffer grievous injuries. A total of 22 persons, including 13 women and nine men were reported injured. Four have been sent to V S Hospital for treatment, remaining were admitted to Shardaben Hospital," said K K Parmar, inspector of Shaherkotda police station.
An elderly woman was reported dead in the incident. However, Parmar said they have not yet received official confirmation of the death. "Primarily we believe that it was overcrowding that caused the mishap. However, we have got samples of the structure to assess whether weak construction might have caused the incident," said Parmar.
Jan 17, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Four Injured After Washington County Structure Collapses
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Home_Collapses_in_Washington_Cou...
Four workers were injured when part of the structure they were building collapsed under them near Brenham.
The accident happened about 2:30 Monday afternoon in the 8900 Block of FM 389
Washington County Sheriff J.W. Jancowski said two people were taken to St. Joseph in Bryan. They are listed in critical condition. The two others were taken to the Brenham Hospital for treatment.
Jancowski says high winds in the area at the time may have caused one of he workers to lose his balance and grabbed on to the rafters. That force then caused the top of the building to collapse sending the four men to the ground.
A wind advisory has been issued for Washington County where winds gusts up to 45 miles per hour are possible.
Jan 17, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/30226862/detail.html
Ceiling Collapses At O'Neill Building
Fire Officials: Broken Pipe Caused Water Leak
UPDATED: 7:21 am EST January 17, 2012
Jan 17, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=135852
16 killed in roof collapse, suffocation, road accident
The rescue personnel said that the house was in poor condition and needed repair but due to poor economic position, the owner was not able to repair or reconstruct it which resulted in the tragedy. Meanwhile it is reported from Gujrat that at least four persons of a family died of suffocation due to leakage of gas here late Sunday night. According to rescue sources, a family residing in Doulat Nagar of Gujrat had left gas heater turned on to keep them warm. At late night the heater turned off as supply was suspended due to low pressure.
Later after restoration of supply, leakage from heater continued and gas filled in the room. Resultantly all the four people sleeping in the room died of the suffocation. The neighbours and relatives on Monday morning after knowing about the incident, broke open the door of the house and shifted the bodies to hospital for postmortem. While it is reported from Swat that at least six persons were killed including three children and 23 other injured as a Karachi bound passenger bus fell into a deep ravine at Daddharra in tehsil Matta on Monday.
The personnel of the security forces, police and local people retrieved the dead bodies and injured from the debris of the bus and shifted them to Saidu Sharif Hospital. The ill-fated passenger bus registration No. LZJ 7301 left Matta for Karachi, however, when it reached Daddharra, it went out of control of the driver while negotiating a deep turn and skidded off mountain, killing six passengers including children and women and injuring 23 others. Those died in the accident were identified as Zahid Iqbal, Hakim Khan, minor girls Qandeel, Faryal, Zainab Jehan while names of the two dead could not be ascertained. Bus driver Khaista Mir injured in the accident. It is reported from Sargodha that a man was gunned down when he refused to give money in the imit of Midh Ranjha police on Monday.
Jan 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=448670
Ceiling collapses over pool at Holiday Inn Express
Share4
The interior ceiling over a swimming pool and Jacuzzi area inside an Ottawa hotel collapsed Monday afternoon.
Ottawa firefighters raced to Holiday Inn Express, 120 W. Stevenson Road, at 2:06 p.m. and quickly assessed, with the assistance of hotel management, that no one was in the pool or hot tub at the time of the incident.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
At the scene, fire chief Jeff Newbury told The Times the ceiling fell in across the entire length of the room causing "significant" damage. A pipe in the building's sprinkler system was broken in the incident and water to the entire building was shut off for a time.
No injuries were reported.
Without an operating sprinkler system, the hotel was immediately closed to guests for safety concerns.
Newbury said he or the city's building inspector would have to examine the hotel after staff members put the sprinkler system back into proper service later in the day to allow the business to reopen.
The building is owned by the Interstate Hotel Group in Downers Grove and is managed locally by Janko Hospitality.
Andy Bridwell, vice president of hotel operations, arrived quickly on the scene to inspect the damage.
"It was fortunate that no one was in the pool area at the time of the incident and we have already begun to make arrangements to begin repairs," said Bridwell.
Bridwell added overnight guests were being directly to the other hotels near Interstate 80 managed by Janko Hospitality until Holiday Inn Express reopens.
Jan 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Road-surface-collapse-causes-...
Road surface collapse causes lane closure on I-81
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has closed the left lane on I-81 southbound from exit 28 to Taft Road and North Syracuse to exit 27 (Syracuse Airport) due to a road surface collapse.
The southbound left lane will be closed due to slope failure and the undermining of the left shoulder and lane until further notice, according to 511ny.org.
Expect delays if you’re headed in that direction. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route if possible.
We have a crew on the way to the scene and will bring you the very latest on the closure tonight on NewsChannel 9 11 @ 11:00, and right here on 9WSYR.com.
Jan 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/191130/288/Cuba-building-coll...
Cuba building collapses killing 3, injuring 6
HAVANA, Cuba (CBS) -- Three people died and six were injured last night when the side wall of a three storey building collapsed inward bringing down the roof leaving only the façade, back wall and other side wall standing.
The building on Salud and Infanta streets in Central Havana had been condemned but people had continued to live there. Cuban TV's midday newscast reports three people died in the collapse and six were injured, four of whom remain hospitalized.
Not unusual for Cubans to refuse to leave condemned building because they have nowhere else to go or do not want to go to a government shelter. Poor or deteriorated housing is major problem throughout Cuba and particularly in the capital and a massive housing shortage often forces extended families to live in overcrowded housing.
Jan 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://kxro.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/mccleary-school-building-colla...
MCCLEARY SCHOOL BUILDING COLLAPSES UNDER WEIGHT OF SNOW
Heavy snow and ice has caused multiple buildings to collapse in Grays Harbor. McCleary Police Chief George Crumb tells KXRO that an annex building used as storage by the McCleary School District looks to have collapsed from the weight of snow. Residents called in to report the collapsed building.
Chief Crumb says that he was able to talk with Superintendent Dan Bolender and was told that the building had been used as storage and recently had an office installed. A wall separated the 2 sides of the annex building which prevented the entire structure from collapsing. McCleary School was closed today due to the winter weather. No staff or students appear to have been inside at the time.
The Fire department has cornered off the area until it can be further examined by school officials.
According to Grays Harbor County Emergency Management Deputy Director Chuck Wallace, 16 inches of snow have been reported in the east county area. Due to recent large amounts of snow, collapsing buildings is one of the dangers officials are concerned with as the snow thaws.
Photos courtesy of Grays Harbor Down
@mcclearysarahJan 20, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Newmarket Classrooms Closed Over Fear Of Ceiling Collapse
Structural Problems Found In Parts Of High School
POSTED: 5:16 pm EST January 20, 2012
UPDATED: 5:57 pm EST January 20, 2012
Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30263912/detail.html#ixzz1k3fbudIq
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/01/20/section-of-18th-street-near-...
Section Of 18th Street Near Union Station Collapses
January 20, 2012 8:53 AM
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Crews are working to determine whether a collapsed pipeline or something else caused a 20′-x-2′ section of 18th Street to buckle early Friday.
The giant hole just north of Poplar in the northbound lanes created little in the way of traffic problems, although one driver badly scraped the bottom of his car before city police and road crews were able to block it off.
A worker on the scene told KMOX News that the bridge where the damage took place was just fine structurally and there was little chance of further collapse.
However, he says they’re hoping to get below ground and determine exactly what the problem is so they can start repairs as quickly as possible before the freezing rain and sleet in the forecast arrives.
Officials with the Metropolitan Sewer District have been called to the scene and the right lane of northbound 18th Street remains closed to traffic.
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Road collapse on southbound Oregon 43 means long delays again today between Lake Oswego and Portland
Published: Friday, January 20, 2012, 6:54 AM Updated: Friday, January 20, 2012, 7:04 AM
Drivers should expect delays of up to 2 hours or more on Oregon 43 south today between Lake Oswego and Portland.
Transportation authorities closed the right lane at Military Road Thursday night after the road surface collapsed. Damage is substantial, and there is no estimate for how long it will take to make repairs.
Alternate routes are suggested. Check Tripcheck for updates.
The closure will make for a second difficult morning commute for drivers headed into Portland.
On Thursday morning the Oregon Department of Transportation closed Oregon 43 for about 40 minutes to clear a tree that had fallen in the heart of the commute.
http://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2012/01/expect_long_...
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://nvonews.com/2012/01/21/two-killed-in-workshop-collapse-in-gu...
Two killed in workshop collapse in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, (IANS) At least two employees of a company were Saturday killed and over 10 people injured when a part of its workshop in IMT Manesar in this satellite town of the national capital collapsed, an official said.
The workshop of Maruti India Ltd’s ancillary company Napino Auto and Electronics Ltd’s building in (industrial model township) IMT Manesar fell when over a dozen employees were inside it.
“There was a huge machine setup which suddenly fell along with the pillars and roof,” investigation officer Surender Singh told IANS.
“The victims were rushed to hospital where two workers were declared dead on arrival. Situation of four workers is stated to be critical.”
Those killed were identified as Bhagirath and Naresh Kumar. Bhagirath hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad and Naresh from Rajasthan.
Senior officials from the police, fire and labour departments were on the spot.
Napino Auto and Electronics Ltd is situated adjacent to Maruti’s main plant in IMT Manesar. Besides trims and other interior items and sheets of cars, Napino manufactures the parts of Hero Moto Corp which was earlier known as Hero Honda.
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/two-die-in-dubai-scaffoldin...
Two die in Dubai scaffolding collapse
At least four construction workers fell to their deaths and several others were injured in two separate incidents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this weekend after scaffolding on which the men were working collapsed.
In Dubai, two workers died and nine were injured when the scaffolding on a building under construction in Dubailand collapsed this morning. The injured workers were rushed to Rashid Hospital by helicopter. A large number of ambulances and rescue teams rushed to the scene.
A police officer at the accident site confirmed that two workers had died. “Investigations are going on to find the cause of the accident,” the policeman said. “Two workers are dead and nine injured.”
The accident happened at the seven-storey residential building under construction in Dubailand opposite Dubai Silicon Oasis, on Dubai Al Ain Road, at around 11am today.
Rescue dogs were released on the scene to search for any more bodies that may have been trapped under the debris. Hundreds of workers were at the site when the scaffolding crumbled. They were painting from outside and fixing glass at the time of the incident.
Workers ran out in fear of their lives soon after the collapse. “I thank God for being alive,” said the Indian worker Ashwini Kumar, adding that he held on to a pipe to survive. “The scaffolding collapsed like a pack of cards. I shivered in fear that I would be dead.” He said that 30 to 40 workers were on the scaffolding. “People were screaming and shouting as it fell off. Some people were pulled out of the rubble to take them to the hospital. It’s a frightening scene,” Mr Kumar said, adding that most of the workers at the site were from India and Bangladesh.
A watchman at the site said he heard a big noise. “It’s like a cyclone as everything fell off,” he said. “There was big sound.”
Some of the workers were taken inside the ambulance to receive first aid. Two dead bodies could be seen lying at the site, wrapped in plastic sheets on the stretcher before police removed them. “I saw some workers being taken to the hospital with broken legs and blood all over their bodies,” said another worker.
The site has been sealed as the investigation continues.
In Abu Dhabi, five men fell yesterday from a residential building under construction next to the Euro Hotel on Muroor Road in the Al Falah area. Two of the men, an Indian and a Bengali, died on the spot, witnesses said. The other three were taken to hospital.
Several people who witnessed the accident, which happened around 10.30am on Friday before the prayer, were emotionally shaken by it.
Last Updated:Dec 30, 2011
The number of construction accidents reported to the municipality has increased this year over 2010. Reducing the rate is not only a matter of enforcement.
National Editorial
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jan-21/160614-unsa...
Unsafe Moseitebeh building evacuated
BEIRUT: Beirut’s governor ordered the evacuation of a Beirut apartment complex Wednesday, deeming it unsafe. In the final hours before the buildings’ doors were to be locked Friday afternoon, frustrated residents were still packing their belongings. “We’ve been in this apartment since 1993,” said one middle-aged resident of the Moseitebeh trio of buildings that residents say was built in the late 1970s. “We renovated the entire apartment several times ... but cracks keep appearing in the walls.”
The man, who did not want his name published, points to cracks and water damage that he has tried to cover up with painting and strategic decoration. Like most of the building’s residents, he owns his apartment. “We notified the municipality more than seven months ago [about problems in the building] but no one listened,” he said.
His apartment was nearly empty Friday, except for some large furniture, including a display case with family photos and sports trophies.
There are at least 65 apartments in the three 11-story buildings. In a letter Wednesday from Beirut governor Nassif Qaloush to the unnamed owners of the buildings known as the “Jumaa Moseitebeh,” Qaloush said that the complex “threatens the lives of residents and passersby.”
Across the hall, near exposed pipes and crumbling stairs, Fatmeh Fadel said she isn’t going anywhere, even though electricity and water are set to be cut. Her carpets were rolled up and stacked on a couch, a few bags were packed, and she pulled back a curtain to show the fissures in her wall. But “I haven’t found another apartment,” she said. “I can’t afford one ... I’ll stay with my daughter and husband unless they find me another apartment.”
Help for Fadel and others may not arrive soon. All residents who spoke to The Daily Star said neither the government nor political parties have offered any assistance. Bilal Hamad, Beirut’s mayor, told The Daily Star that he understood the Higher Relief Committee was in charge of helping with temporary relocation and financial issues. But residents are unaware of this, nor are they aware of when they will be able to return, and HRC representatives could not be reached for comment.
Occupants aren’t sure who owns the building, but several said the Amal Movement was in control, and the party’s insignia adorns the entrance. A spokesperson for the party dismissed the claim, but said they had an office in the area.
Hamad said that a firm has been contracted to study the building and evaluate the necessary renovations. He said he thinks “the building could be repaired,” but added it would need “a complete, detailed structural repair” before anyone can return.
The closure seems to have been prompted by last weekend’s collapse of an Ashrafieh building that killed 27 people. But Hamad said the issue of safety at the complex “has been hanging for a long time. Since the Ashrafieh building went down, people are thinking about this seriously. I think it [the building] was ignored until this crisis happened.” He added that there will “probably” be future evacuations, not just in Beirut. “I’ve seen tens, hundreds of buildings like this.”
Carrying a closet door on his back to his parent’s house across the street, Nabil Hamdan said his family, brother and sister are moving
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-roof-collapse-hurts...
2 hurt in Allentown house balcony collapse
A balcony at 24 S. Leh St., Allentown, apartment house lies in pieces after it collapsed 11:30 p.m. Friday, injuring two people.
January 21, 2012
A second-floor balcony collapsed from a west Allentown apartment house Friday night, injuring two people.
The collapse was reported 11:30 p.m. at 24 S. Leh St., a block south of W. Hamilton Street, between 22nd and 23rd streets. The two injured people may have been standing on the balcony when it broke away.
At least one of the injured was taken by Cetronia Ambulance to the hospital.
Dispatchers initially radioed that firefighters should be ready for a rescue, but it did not appear anyone was trapped in the rubble when firetrucks arrived.
Jan 21, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/wet-weather-collapses-road-oakland-hi...
Wet weather collapses road in Oakland Hills
OAKLAND, Calif. —
Wet weather caused a remote road in the Oakland Hills to collapse Saturday and caused some residents to lose water and power.
Early Saturday morning, a vacant hillside lot below Wild Currant Road gave way onto Oakwood Drive.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District was working to get to the root of the landslide.
EBMUD workers said Friday night's rain may have caused a water main to break.
Mike Hengelman, an Oakland Hills resident, said he didn't hear the hillside fall, instead he just saw mud onhis steps.
"The hillside just came tumbling down," Hengelman said. "Then I walked out the front door and said, 'Ah, well that's unusual.' There used to be a road there."
PG&E crews were working on cutting away the downed branches and getting the power lines back in service.
"We lost power for a little while but it came back on and they're doing their thing," Hengelman added.
No evacuations were ordered, but some residents were without water Saturday night.
Jan 22, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/201201/90427.php
Two persons died, while four were seriously injured when an uncompleted church building collapsed on a wooden structure in which they were sleeping at Abonko in Tema Newtown.
The bodies of the deceased, Maame Adwoa, six, and Ebo Quansah, 52, have been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary, while the injured are receiving medical attention.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, the Tema Regional Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Mr Timothy Osafo Affum, said the station had a distress call at about 5 a.m. yesterday, alerting them of the disaster.
He said the fire personnel responded immediately but on reaching the scene, they discovered that the incident actually occurred about 4 a.m.
According to Mr Osafo Affum, those who died were still trapped under the wooden structure, while the injured had been sent to hospital for attention.
Mr Affum said the church building, a property of the Gospel Teaching Ministry, might have been weak at the foundation level, leading to its collapse.
He said the area was waterlogged and that stagnant waters might have weakened the foundation of the church, which eventually collapsed onto the wooden structure, killing the two occupants.
Jan 23, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Two detained over scaffolding fall as bodies identified
ABU DHABI // Two men have been detained on suspicion of negligence in connection with a fatal construction accident that was caused by improperly secured scaffolding under excessive weight, police said today.
The chief of security and safety and the technician responsible for installing scaffolds from Al Diyar general contracting are being held on suspicion of neglect, police said.
It was not clear whether the men have been formally charged with a crime.
Five men fell from the building next to the Euro Hotel on Muroor Road in the capital on Friday after scaffolding collapsed for the second time in two days. Police said one of the men died.
The scaffolding racks collapsed because they were not secured firmly enough, and they fell on top of one worker who died on the spot, the police investigation has found.
Col Ibrahim Al Zaabi, head of the Alshabiya police station, said excessive weight on the scaffolds and gravity were the reasons for the collapse.
Jan 23, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120123/NEWS01/120123012/Buildin...|head
One killed, one taken to hospital after building collapses in Greenfield
Workers try to clear rubble of a building that collapsed in Greenfield this morning. / KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun
Emergency workers respond to the collapse of a building on Front Street in downtown Greenfield this morning. / KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun
GREENFIELD — Witnesses who have been on the scene since 10 a.m. say one person was killed after a building collapsed in downtown Greenfield this morning, and emergency workers removed a second injured person from the building.
The injured person was taken to a hospital.
Weakley County emergency communications director Jamison Peevyhouse said about 1:30 p.m. that emergency responders are trying to clear debris to get to the body.
Peevyhouse said three people were in the area of the building when it collapsed.
The building at 108 N. Front St. housed Legend's Little Italy Pizza, according to a City Hall spokeswoman.
The restaurant was not open at the time of the collapse, she said.
The Jackson Sun has a reporter and photographer at the scene in Greenfield.
Check jacksonsun.com for further updates as more information becomes available.
Jan 23, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
PART OF THE HOUSE WHERE GRAMSCI LIVED COLLAPSED IN TURIN
http://www.agi.it/english-version/italy/elenco-notizie/201201241430...
14:30 24 GEN 2012
(AGI) Turin - Part of the house where Antonio Gramsci lived in Turin collapsed this morning. The building overlooks piazza Carlo Emanuele II (that Torinesi call piazza Carlina) in central Turin. It seems that the collapse took place at fifth floor, which is being restored, without causing any harm to people. Some rubble hit the cars parked below. The fire brigade cordoned off the area. . .
Jan 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Syria: Building collapses in Homs after apparent shelling trapping people in the rubble
Amateur footage purports to show the chaotic aftermath of the collapse of a building in the Bab Tadmur area of Homs in which many people were reported killed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9036758/...
7:02PM GMT 24 Jan 2012
Amateur videos apparently show the debris of a house in the Bab Tadmur area of Homs, which purportedly collapsed under shelling today with people trapped inside.
Footage from the immediate aftermath of the collapse shows injured people being carried away amongst fires and debris.
Local activist Mohammed Saleh said 17 people were killed in the attack. The umbrella group Local Coordination Committees claimed 30 people were killed.
Clips from later on show smoke still rising from the wreckage and people combing through the debris.
The videos cannot be independently verified because of foreign reporting restrictions in the country.
Jan 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Wow Malou, Found a link to a video and this is a doozy. A girl that lives on the other side of the building said everything shakes and it sounded like an earthquake and that big beautiful white house that's hanging over the cliff......well yeah....that doesn't look too promising. I'm thinking there's going to be alot more of these.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&a...
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Rescue under way after building collapse
8:13am Wednesday 25th January 2012
http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/9490913.Rescue_under_way_after_b...
Part of the roof of a derelict building has collapsed, sparking fears someone could be trapped beneath the rubble.
A specialist fire service search and rescue team, with a sniffer dog, is currently at the scene in Chesham Street, Keighley.
The alarm was raised at about 2.30am today when a security guard at the former Keighley College’s Harold Town building reported that part of the roof had collapsed and a shout had been heard.
Police were called and they alerted the fire brigade, which mobilised two crews from Keighley Fire Station and the specialist unit from Cleckheaton.
Keighley watch commander Steve Moorhouse said: “It is believed that someone may have been inside the building.
“Teams are still at the scene searching through the debris.”
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
4-year-old Manhattan girl escapes virtually uninjured from scaffolding collapse
A 4-year-old girl on her way to school on the Upper East Side escaped virtually unharmed this morning after she was struck by a wood plank during a scaffolding collapse.
Workers were removing scaffolding in front of a building at 130 East 75th Street near Park Ave. when a piece of wood fell and hit the child.
Rochelle Siskind, 39, said she was taking her daughter, Jessica, to school around 8 a.m. at Temple Israel on East 75th Street.
"I heard a loud bang and a plank was over her whole body," she told The Post.
A shaken Siskind quickly came to her daughter's aid.
"She was crying," Siskind said of her daughter. "A bunch of people ran over to help. I picked her up and brought her into the school."
The girl later underwent an exam and was found to only have suffered a bruise on her shoulder.
"It's surreal," Siskind said. "Thank God she's fine. You just never know. That's the problem with scaffolding in the city."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/year_old_manhattan_gir...
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.cosmostv.org/2012/01/40-people-missing-in-papua-new-guin...
40 People missing in Papua New Guinea landslide
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/282645/near-100-mph-winds...
Near 100 mph winds destroy NE Austin building
By: John A. Salazar
High winds destroyed a Northeast Austin building early Wednesday morning.
Officials aren’t sure if the building collapse at 5106 Commercial Park Drive, between Springdale Road and Manor Road, was caused by a tornado or straight-line winds.
YNN’s Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons said around 3 a.m., winds picked up just north of Commercial Park Drive and by 3:10 a.m., winds reached a maximum speed of 93 miles per hour.
Officials say there’s twisted metal on power lines and crews are working to clean up and get businesses back up in the area.
“We’re trying to get people back into business. We’ve isolated the businesses that are damaged. We’re working with Texas Gas, Austin Energy, the Austin Police Department, Austin Street Bridge. We want to get these roads clear. We want to get people back to work. We want to make it safe and we want to make sure everyone is safe,” Austin Fire Department Spokesperson Palmer Buck said.
Parts of debris were scattered as far away as 200 yards. Official damage estimates total $1.65 million.
Rescue crews say high winds may have ripped off the roof of least one home in the 9100 block of Happy Trails.
Power should be restored to the area by 1 p.m.
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Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
The video is a clip from a brand-new ice hockey rink Námestovom, where young hockey players were training with former NHL player Richard Zednik. Everything is calm at the beginning of the video, but you can hear some strange noises at the beginning of the clip, ones that sound like the building is under some kind of external pressure.
And then the video jumps to a clip of the roof slowly collapsing while everyone inside the rink is trying to flee to safety.
According to several reports (via Yahoo! Sports), the good news is that nobody was hurt. That's pretty amazing once you notice that the people inside the building literally stood by and watched the roof collapse right in front of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh2PiEwwwPM
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/worker_removed_from_...
Worker removed from 9th floor of University Building in downtown Syracuse after ceiling collapses
Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 2:45 PM
Syracuse, NY -- A construction worker remodeling an office on the ninth floor of a downtown Syracuse office building was critically injured today when he was struck by a falling section of ceiling, Syracuse police said.
The worker, who was not immediately identified, was carried from the ninth floor of the University Building, 120 E. Washington St., by firefighters shortly after the collapse. Rescuers were performing CPR on the worker, who was bleeding profusely from the head, as they carried him to a waiting ambulance. The worker was taken to Upstate University Hospital.
Syracuse police Sgt. Tom Connellan said the worker was in his mid-20s and had suffered "a very traumatic injury." The worker was wearing a helmet at the time, he said.
Construction workers were working in the office about 12:56 p.m. when a very large wooden section of false ceiling came down and struck the injured worker, Connellan said. Connellan estimated the wooden section of ceiling was approximately 10 feet by 20 feet. Only one worker was injured, he said.
The office where the construction was going on was on the south side of the University Building where it joins the Snow Building, Connellan said.
"It appears that they may have removed a wall that may have been a load-bearing wall," Connellan said.
The fire department determined that it was one section of ceiling that was unstable and the building remained occupied during the rescue, Connellan said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on the scene of the collapse, Connellan said.
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Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Construction worker killed in roof collapse
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705398022/Construction-worker-ki...
SALT LAKE CITY — A 48-year-old construction worker was killed Wednesday when a patio roof fell on top of him.
The accident happened about 9 a.m. at 2509 Kensington Ave. Five roofers were reshingling the main home, said Salt Lake fire spokesman Scott Freitag. A man was on a ladder doing some type of work to a patio roof that was connected by nails to the main roof, he said.
"The patio roof became detached and came down on top of him," Freitag said. "We're not sure why it came detached from the rest of the building."
Not all of the 15x15 foot roof collapsed. But enough of it dropped about 5 feet, pinning the man between the roof and his ladder, he said.
Investigators weren't sure if the man, whose name was not immediately released pending notification of family members, died from trauma or suffocation.
No one witnessed the actual roof collapse, Freitag said.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Jan 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
McCleary School storage building collapses under weight of snow
http://www.thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/mccleary-school-st...
THE ROOF WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD.....
Jacob Jones | The Daily World
A storage building for the McCleary School collapsed under the weight of heavy snow Thursday afternoon.
The roof of a storage building at the McCleary School collapsed under the weight of rain saturated-snow Thursday afternoon, destroying the building. No one was inside.
The building, built in the 1980s, was used for storage and as an office for transportation services.
It is not directly connected to the school, which serves students from preschool through the eighth grade. The school, with an enrollment of about 330, was closed Thursday because of the heavy snowfall.
A man watching at the scene after the collapse, which happened a little after 1 p.m., said snow had drifted and was particularly deep on one side of the building. The building got a new roof last summer at a cost of about $20,000.
Meantime, the county continues to be hit by extremely hazardous icing conditions and weather related issues. Numerous tree limbs have fallen, mainly in East Grays Harbor County. A number of roads are closed, and although county road crews are working to clear the area they are in danger as icy tree limbs continue to break off and fall, according to Ed McGowan, detective with the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, who is helping to staff the Emergency Operations Center.
“A couple of workers were close to getting hit, so they have backed off to a safe zone,” said McGowan. “We don’t argue with gravity.”
Identified road closures as of Thursday afternoon include:
• Blue Slough Road is closed due to downed trees blocking both lanes in multiple areas.
• East Satsop Road is closed at milepost 5 due to a landslide blocking both lanes.
• Lambert Road is closed due to downed trees in multiple areas.
• Stamper Road is closed due to downed trees blocking both lanes in multiple areas.
• West Satsop Road is closed due to downed trees blocking both lanes at milepost 4.
For a list of Grays Harbor County closures go to the web at
Jan 26, 2012
Love is the answer
RIO DE JANEIRO: At least 11 people were killed or injured Wednesday when an 18-story building in the center of Rio de Janeiro partially collapsed after an explosion, television reports said.
Read more: 11 dead or injured in Rio building collapse - Top News - New Strait... http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/11-dead-or-injured-in-rio-building-c...
Jan 26, 2012
Love is the answer
Now it's Two buildings collapse in Rio de Janeiro
(Reuters) - Two buildings collapsed in downtown Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, in the latest incident highlighting the failure of authorities to improve the city's infrastructure amid preparations to host soccer's World Cup and the Olympics.
Jan 26, 2012
Love is the answer
Videos - Two buildings in Rio collapse
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/01/overnight_the_fo...
Overnight, the Former Chumley's in Deep Ellum Became an Open-Air Venue
The sign still says "Articles," but I'll always remember the three-story storefront on Elm and Good-Latimer as Chumley's, located at the acoustic end of Deep Ellum on the heels of Charles Francis "Chumley" Hawkins's late, great Dave's Art Pawn Shop. Everyone played there, from Aimee Mann to Cafe Noir, Lisa Loeb to Rhett Miller, all on their way up. Before that, long ago, that spot had accommodated everything from a lumberyard to a loan-maker to a paint-and-paper company.
Last I looked there was talk of it becoming an ultra-lounge; that didn't pan out. Westdale's been trying to lease the valued-at-$320,000 building ever since. But now, it's sans roof: Justin Terveen was out in the deluge last night, of course, and was there when Dallas Fire-Rescue answered the call. Wrote Justin in the note that arrived in the in-box during the wee small hours of the morning: "Place is thrashed."
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/news_keighley/9492907.Roof_colla...
Roof collapse sparks huge search of building
8:20am Thursday 26th January 2012 in
A massive search was launched in a derelict Keighley building after part of the roof collapsed, sparking fears someone could be trapped beneath the rubble.
A specialist fire service search and rescue team – with a sniffer dog – was called in to sift through the debris at the Harold Town building, in Chesham Street.
A security guard who had raised the alarm shortly after 2am yesterday reported hearing a shout as the section of roof fell.
But firefighters remained at the scene for about six hours and found no one.
Police were initially contacted by the security guard and they then alerted the fire brigade, which mobilised two crews from Keighley Fire Station and the specialist unit from Cleckheaton.
Keighley watch commander Steve Moorhouse said: “It was believed that someone may have been inside the two-storey bit of the building affected by the collapse and could have been trapped. A full search was carried out and we kept one of our crews at the scene until the operation was concluded.”
The Harold Town building, which is owned by Bradford Council, is being demolished. It has stood empty since 2010, when its former occupier, Keighley Campus Leeds City College, moved out.
The one-hectare site is allocated for employment use and once it has been cleared the Council hopes to attract a new employer to the plot.
A Council spokesman said officers visited the site yesterday after the incident and a meeting was taking place to discuss the issue. He said: “During demolition, responsibility for the security and management of the site is passed to the contractor and will be handed back to the Council when the work is completed.”
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://tribune.com.pk/story/327382/weak-structures-13-die-in-roof-c...
Weak structures: 13 die in roof collapse incidents
A clutch of roof collapse incidents across the country claimed 13 lives on Wednesday.
Seven people were killed when the roof of a house came crashing down in Peshawar due to a gas leak explosion. Likewise, five people died in Kohistan when the roof of a clay-built house collapsed. A 10-year-old child lost his life in Quetta when the roof of a rickety hotel caved in.
Seven people, including a woman and three children, were killed in the roof-collapse incident in the Namak Mandi area of Peshawar on Wednesday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Imtiaz told The Express Tribune that the explosion, which took place at around 4:45 am, was the result of a gas leakage.
“Nazar Muhammad, his wife and three daughters were killed, while one daughter was injured,” he said. The DSP said that the wife of Nazar Muhammad’s brother was also killed as a result of the explosion.
Imtiaz added that despite awareness campaigns, people do not turn off gas heaters and incidents like this have become a routine.
Rescue teams rushed to the area and according to a statement issued by Rescue 1122, the disaster emergency response team,rescued Rehman, 29, and Samin, 25, alive and recovered bodies of Nazar Muhammad, his wife Maryam, 23; Asma, 13; Attia, 12; Aiman, nine; and Waqar, eight, from the debris.
Five labourers, including two brothers, were killed and two others injured seriously when a similar roof collapse incident happened in the remote village of Teshil Pattan in Kohistan on Tuesday evening, police and villagers said. The injured were shifted to the Bisham hospital where their condition was stated to be critical.
Kohistan District Police Officer Muhammad Ilyas Khan told The Express Tribune that seven mine workers of a local chromite mine were asleep in a clay-built house situated on the foothill of village Darra Jeejal when a heavy mass of earth fell on it.
A 10-year-old boy was killed and two others sustained injuries when the roof of an improvised roadside hotel collapsed on Saryab Road in Quetta on Wednesday.
According to owner of the hotel, there were three people, including a child, having a tea inside the hotel near the New Saryab police station when the roof caved in. As a result, the three were trapped in the rubble.
People at the scene pulled out the body of 10-year-old Faheem and the two injured were also rescued. They were shifted to the Sandeman Hospital where the condition of the injured was stated to be out of danger.
“The hotel was built with mud and it was in very poor condition,” a police official of New Saryab told The Express Tribune.
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Man trapped in Leeds wall collapse
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leed...
By Bruce Smith
Published on Thursday 26 January 2012 15:46
AN air ambulance was alerted after a supporting wall fell on a man in Leeds today.
The man, believed to be aged around 62, was trapped by the wall in the Manor Garth Road, Kippax, shortly after 3pm.
Fire Service crews were sent to the scene and managed to release the man, but it was not known whether he would be flown to hospital or taken by road ambulance.
The cause of the collapse of the wall and exact circumstances were not immediately known.
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2012/01/26...
Man rescued from JCB in grain silo collapse at Seaforth Docks - 3.35PM UPDATE
A TRAPPED warehouse worker was rescued from his JCB after a grain store roof collapsed at Seaforth Docks.
Firefighters were called to a grain warehouse on South Hornby Dock at 10.31 this morning to release the 35-year-old man, after a 50-foot section of a shed roof collapsed.
A search and rescue team were also deployed to look for other workers trapped in the wreckage, though no-one else was injured.
The worker was given first aid and oxygen and released from the JCB at 11.25am.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service personnel also removed debris in the area of the collapse to help paramedics remove the man from the cab of the JCB.
He was taken to Aintree Hospital but at this stage his injuries are not thought to be serious.
A fire engine from Kirkdale Community Fire Station, an appliance from Crosby Community Fire Station, and the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team based at Croxteth Community Fire Station responded to the call-out.
Port of Liverpool police also attended, cordoning off a section of the road, along with ambulance crews, and the area was cleared by 12.15pm.
As of 2.30pm the incident has yet to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-32676-One-killed-in-building-coll...
One killed in building collapse
RAWALPINDI: One person died when an under construction building collapsed in Masrial area on Thursday.
An official of Rescue 1122 said that a complaint was received about collapse of an under construction building on Masrial.
On receiving the information, Rescue 1122 personnel reached the spot and started rescue operation. But, their efforts proved to be fruitless as 35 years old Muhammad Akber s/o Banaras had already expired. His body was shifted to District Headquater Hospital (DHQ) for autopsy.
The reason of collapse was yet to be known
Jan 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
January 26, 2012
http://bdtonline.com/local/x1456429473/MORNING-UPDATE-Portion-of-fi...
Portion of five-story building collapses in McDowell County onto ad...
A portion of the five-story Libby Building collapsed early Thursday morning with the debris falling onto the adjacent Southern Insurance Agency structure on McDowell Street. No injuries were reported in the 4:30 a.m. collapse.
WELCH — A portion of a five-story structure damaged by fire earlier this week has collapsed onto an adjoining agency building, officials in McDowell County confirm this morning.
A portion of the historic Libby Building collapsed at 4:30 a.m. with the debris falling onto the adjacent Southern Insurance Agency building on McDowell Street, according to 911 officials and the city of Welch.
No injuries were immediately reported. City officials are currently on scene assessing the damage.
“I got the call at 7:30 a.m. this morning,” City Attorney Danny Barie said. “A part (of the building) fell off of the side going toward Coney Island, and severely damaged the roof of Southern Insurance. About a third of the roof of Southern Insurance is collapsed now. When the debris from the Libby Building fell on Southern Insurance, the force blew out the front of their glass windows.”
Barie said city officials are concerned about the possibility of an additional collapse of the of the old Libby Building, and are working to expedite demolition efforts. Traffic will continue to be re-routed in the downtown due to the building collapse.
“The whole area is blocked off,” Barie said. “We are re-routing traffic. We are trying to keep people away from that block. There is still a danger to anyone on foot or car.”
Jan 27, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120127/NEWS/30127...|head
DOWNTOWN — A partial collapse at the new casino site at the corner of Reading and Broadway Street has been reported this morning.
• Live video from the site
As many as 16-20 people were injured, nine with serious injuries. Ten people were taken to University Hospital. All workers were conscious and are being evaluated, but none have life-threatening injuries even though their exact conditions are not known. The workers range in age from 30 to mid-40s. Most are expected to be released later today.
“Everyone who was brought in was treated within seconds,” said Diana Maria Lara, hospital spokeswoman.
Cincinnati Police Lt. Maurice Robinson they aren’t sure yet why the collapse occured, but it’s a large section of the building. A casino representative is being briefed on the situation and OSHAA respresentatives are expected on the scene soon.
A spokeswoman for general contractor Messer Construction said it was gathering information on the accident this morning and didn't have any immediate comment.
Fire Chief Dick Braun said workers were pouring concrete on the second floor when the floor gave out below them. No one was underneath the collapse.
Muddy conditions forced firefighters to build a makeshift bridge to transport injured workers from the scene. Braun said while the rain hampered rescue efforts, a structural engineer will have to examine the building to determine what happened.
One of the workers said they had been ordered not to talk.
Roads around the casino are being closed by police.
There were approximately 11-12 fire trucks on the scene and several ambulances were tending to people who have minor injuries.
City spokeswoman Meg Olberding said workers have been sent home and site will be closed today.
In October 2010, casino developer Rock G Southwest aming named four Ohio construction companies to oversee construction of the $400 millionts downtown casino at Broadway Commons.
The local companies are: Messer Construction Co. of Bond Hill, D.A.G. Construction Co. Inc. of Walnut Hills, Jostin Construction of Walnut Hills and TriVersity Construction Group of Lockland
The last three companies, which are minority-owned, will form a joint venture for the project called Pendleton Construction Group LLC to pool resources to increase inclusion and workforce diversity.
A spokeswoman for Messer said this morning it was still investigating the collapse and had no immediate comment.
On Dec. 16 there was a collapse of a parking garage connected with the downtown Cleveland casino also being developed by Rock Gaming. , There were no injuries in that incident and construction has resumed.
Jan 27, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/perthshire-news/local-news-pe...
Ceiling collapse closes Crieff Royal Bank of Scotland branch
Jan 27 2012 by Katy Gordon, Perthshire Advertiser Friday
A BANKING collapse of a different kind has caused mayhem in Crieff this week.
The Royal Bank of Scotland in James Square was forced to close its doors when part of its ceiling came crashing down.
However, the company reacted quickly, setting up a mobile bank in the square opposite the premises.
The building above the bank is part of the derelict Drummond Arms Hotel.
A spokesperson for RBS said yesterday: “We can confirm that our branch in Crieff has had to close for the time being due to structural damage in the building above, which has resulted in flooding.
“This is, of course, deeply regrettable. However, we have taken immediate action to ensure we continue to provide banking services through a mobile bank.
“Construction experts are currently examining the damage to the property and we are trying to contact the owner of the property to ensure he is aware of the issue.”
The bank was looking into the possibility of bringing a Portakabin-style branch to the town.
Crieff-based MSP Roseanna Cunningham urged the owners of the hotel to work to keep the building safe.
She said: “I was very concerned to learn of the problems that have been caused to the High Street branch of the RBS by the apparent lack of upkeep of the Drummond Arms.
“Staff and customers have been really disadvantaged by this situation and I hope that it can be resolved as soon as possible.
“I have no doubt that RBS have plenty of lawyers that they can get on the case but I would urge the owners of the Drummond Arms to ensure that the building is made safe and maintained to a reasonable state of repair.”
Representatives of the owner of the Drummond Arms Hotel were not available for comment.
Jan 27, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/TON/Article.aspx?id=3554
A building belonging to the Nigerian Navy in Abuja collapsed this morning killing one person and trapping many others.
Rescuers are digging through the rubbles to rescue those trapped inside the lower level of the building.
Rescue workers told Thetimesofnigeria.com correspondent that three people have evacuated to the hospital with serious injuries.
The building is located in Gwarinpa reputed to be the largest residential estate in Nigeria.
“One person died here and the ambulance took the body away. Three people have been taken to the hospital.” One of the early responders to the site said.
Our correspondence saw several rescue workers at the site while the police and civil defense are having a busy time controlling the onlookers and neighbors.
Jan 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/TON/Article.aspx?id=3554
Navy Building Collapses In Abuja, One Dead, Many Trapped!
A building belonging to the Nigerian Navy in Abuja collapsed this morning killing one person and trapping many others.
Rescuers are digging through the rubbles to rescue those trapped inside the lower level of the building.
Rescue workers told Thetimesofnigeria.com correspondent that three people have evacuated to the hospital with serious injuries.
The building is located in Gwarinpa reputed to be the largest residential estate in Nigeria.
“One person died here and the ambulance took the body away. Three people have been taken to the hospital.” One of the early responders to the site said.
Our correspondence saw several rescue workers at the site while the police and civil defense are having a busy time controlling the onlookers and neighbors.
Jan 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/28/2612270/a-havana-theater-buil...
A Havana theater built in 1921 collapsed, killing one man and highlighting Cuba’s desperate housing shortage.
A theater opened in 1921 was the second fatal building collapse in 10 days
A 90-year-old Havana theater collapsed and killed one man in the fifth such wreck in 10 days, underscoring the precarious state of many dwellings and commercial structures in a city known for its rich architecture.
The Campoamor Theater was opened in 1921, closed in the mid 1970s and partially collapsed about five years ago, neighbors said. But four families, driven by Cuba’s critical housing shortage, were squatting there when it collapsed Thursday.
The four-story shell was featured in a 2006 documentary about the battered state of many of Havana’s old buildings, “The New Art of Making Ruins,” by German filmmakers Florian Borchmeyer and Matthias Hentschler.
Ricardo Riquene Anaya, 47, plunged from the third floor and died when the building collapsed, one emergency worker told El Nuevo Herald. His son had to be pulled from the ruins but was reported in good condition, suffering from cuts and bruises.
Riquene was the custodian of a parking lot next to the Campoamor, one block from the National Capitol Building in the Centro Havana district and worked in a nearby car repair shop, according to a neighbor, Norley QuitutisCQ.
At least four youths were killed and five were injured when their three-story building, also in Centro Havana and also condemned after a partial collapse more than 10 years ago, fell in a heap just last week.
Three other Havana buildings collapsed Thursday without injuries, the emergency worker reported. He asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to comment and feared government sanctions.
Dissident Martha Beatriz Roque said she was told that some of the walls of the Campoamor Theater had been propped up with lumber, but thieves would make off with the timber under cover of night because of the shortage of construction materials.
“What we’re seeing is a sign of what is happening to the government, slowly crumbling,” she told El Nuevo Herald by phone from Havana.
Roque, spokesperson for a group of beginner journalists that calls itself the Cuban Network of Community Communicators, said the network recently published a report noting that 80 percent of the 178 theaters in Havana were in very bad shape.
Official government figures show the island of 11.2 million people has a shortage of about 600,000 housing units. Almost nine out of every 10 existing buildings need repairs, and more than 50 percent are ranked as being in “bad” state or worse.
Six persons were injured in 2009 with the collapse of a sports facility in the city of Matanzas, the Ateneo Deportivo Aurelio Janet.
Campoamor was inaugurated in 1921 and was the site of many performances by famous Cuban and foreign artists. It later was turned into a movie3 house, and in the 1970s it became a warehouse for theatrical equipment.
Writer Ramón Diaz Marzo, in a column posted Aug. 30 in the blog Cuba Verdad — Cuba Truth —complained that the government was not keeping up with the decay of many Havana buildings like the Campoamor.
Jan 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9499685.High_winds_cause_chimney_co...
High winds cause chimney collapse in Scarborough
1:20pm Sunday 29th January 2012
HIGH winds in Scarborough have caused parts of a chimney to collapse, damaging at least one parked car.
North Yorkshire Fire Service were called to a property in Commercial Street, in the Prospect Road area of the town, after reports of falling brickwork.
A Fire Service spokeswoman said nobody had been hurt in the incident, and crews used ladders to get to the chimney and help maintain the structure until a structural engineer arrived.
Police have cordoned off an area of the footpath to help prevent injury until the 20mph winds subside.
Jan 29, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Mt. Washington Road Closed After Retaining Wall Collapse
PITTSBURGH —
A Mount Washington road is closed after a retaining wall collapsed on Monday.
Officials said the wall collapsed on Wyoming Street after noon.
Public Works crews have closed Wyoming Street from Sycamore Street to Grandview Avenue while repairs are being made.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/mt-washington-road-closed-after-retai...
Jan 30, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Building-collapses-i...
Building collapses in Nagpur, many trapped
PTI | Jan 30, 2012, 10.03PM ISTRescue operations are in full swing to extricate a number of persons feared trapped under the debris, police said.
The dilapidated building housing a cold storage plant caved in in the evening, following which labourers working there were trapped under the rubble, they said, adding seven workers have so far been rescued.
The identity of the injured has not been established yet.
According to police, due to the impact, the plant machinery suffered an extensive damage, resulting in leakage of ammonium and carbon-dioxide gases causing brief panic in nearby residential areas.
Many of the residents complained of uneasiness and irritation of eyes due to the leakage which is being brought under control, they said.
Power supply was disrupted in the area post collapse and fire brigade and police teams have launched massive rescue operations, added police.
Jan 30, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Milpitas: Man buried, dies when hillside foundation trench collapses
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19853787
A man who was working on a 5,800-square-foot Milpitas hills home was killed Saturday when the trench he was working collapsed and buried him -- three days after the city ordered work stopped on the project, according to the chief building official.
The man was working in a 12-foot cut to the hillside made for the foundation of the home on Calaveras Ridge Drive when the top three- to four-feet of the cut gave way in the moist soil, trapping the young worker, said Keyvan Irannejad, chief building official with the Milpitas Building and Safety Department
"They didn't have proper shoring in place, and it crushed him," Irannejad said.
Wednesday, a Building and Safety Department inspector issued a stop-work
notice after seeing there was a lack of shoring, according to Irannejad. The inspector required the developer to obtain a review by a soils engineer to provide recommendations for shoring."Despite of the stop work notice, work in the trench was continued, which led to the fatal accident," Irannejad said.
The victim, whose name has not been released, worked for U.S.-Sino Investment Inc. of Fremont.
His body had not been removed as of Monday at noon, according to a city source. Recovery efforts have been hampered by the threat of more soil collapse.
The Milpitas police and fire departments have not issued a statement with more details yet. A fire department official said the Calaveras Ridge site is being treated as a crime scene
Jan 31, 2012