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
http://en.tengrinews.kz/emergencies/Another-5-storey-Bessoba-buildi...
Another 5-storey Bessoba building collapsing in Karaganda
An unfinished multi-storey building in Bessoba residential complex in Karaganda has lurched to one side, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports.
“The building was tilting one one side from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Monday; the crack has reached 18 cm. It will collapse today or tomorrow,” the locals told Interfax-Kazakhstan. A resident of one of the neighboring buildings Sergey Abayev told that the crack had reached 10-12 cm during that day. The building started lurching in the evening and the crack has now reached 18 cm.
“Nobody lives in this building. It’s construction is not completed. This is one of the last buildings constructed in Bessoba,” he said.
Head of Kazybekbiy region of Karaganda Zhanat Iskakov, management of the city’s emergency situations department and representatives of the state architectural-construction control department have arrived to the accident site.
The control markers installed on July 5 have moved apart. That confirms that the crack is widening. “Police officers and personnel of the emergency situations department have cordoned the building off. We have moved the cars away from the parking lots. Another danger in case of the building's collapse is that there is playground located only a few meters away from the building. Our kids play there in the evenings,” the residents of nearby buildings say.
Earlier Tengrinews.kz English reported that the results of investigation of reasons that caused the 5-storey building to collapse in Bessoba residential complex of Karaganda were unveiled on May 15. “Development of unacceptable foundation settlement caused by soil swelling” was tagged the main reason behind the collapse. 5-storey residential building No.7 of Bessoba residential complex, constructed 3 years ago as an equity construction project, collapsed in the morning of April 6.
A criminal case was initiated against the construction companies that erected the building No.7. Besides, a criminal case for abuse of powers was initiated against chairman and members of the state commission that accepted the building in exploitation after its construction.
Jul 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://twocircles.net/2012jul24/two_dead_three_injured_building_col...
Two dead, three injured in building collapse in Delhi
New Delhi : Two people were killed and three others injured when an under-construction building collapsed here Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The incident was reported from west Delhi's Kirti Nagar area around 12.30 p.m. All the victims, in their 20's, are reportedly labourers.
"They were taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) hospital where two were declared brought dead while three others are being treated," said a police officer.
Jul 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://thedailynewsegypt.com/2012/07/24/a-second-building-in-alexan...
A second building in Alexandria collapses
July 24, 2012
A mother and her two daughters were killed in west Alexandria on Monday when the one story building they were living in collapsed only a week after a building collapse claimed 20 lives in a nearby neighbourhood.
Reports stated that the building located in the El-Amreya district on Seven Up Street was built on a sandy land and collapsed due to a landslide.
Ahmed Essmat, an Alexandrian Journalist, said many buildings in Alexandria are prone to collapse. However, Essmat said, residents who live in buildings on uneven ground, or hazardous dwellings have nowhere to move.
“Recently a building in Sidi Beshr was leaning and people asked the residents to evacuate it, but they refused. They have nowhere to go,” Essmat said.
“There are more than 50 similar cases in Alexandria and the Governor isn’t doing anything about it,” he added.
Hassan Allam,the head of Egypt’s Building Inspectorate, told The Egyptian Gazette two million buildings over the past few years have violated construction regulations across Egypt and 180,000 of them are in Alexandria.
The building collapse last Sunday in the “Gomrok” area of Alexandria a week crashed into three adjacent buildings as it fell, accounting for the extraordinary toll of lives. The building’s owner had been repeatedly warned about its weakness and has since been arrested for negligence in relation to the collapse.
In addition to signs of structural weaknesses in many buildings to explain the fall, several rumours surfaced including a suggestion that the woman and her children were digging for antiquities and roman monuments under their house.
Jul 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article3681539.ece
Two killed in building collapse
Most of those present in the building were daily labourers,however no confirmation on the total number of people present.
Two persons, including a woman, were killed and three injured when a building collapsed in Kirti Nagar here on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident took place around 12-45 p.m. Construction activity was going on in the building located in the Furniture Market of Kirti Nagar at the time of collapse. Most of those present in the building were daily labourers. There was, however, no confirmation on the total number of people present.
While the identity of the deceased persons could not be ascertained according to the police, those injured have been identified as Sanjiv, Bhola and Bittu – all aged between 18 to 20 years. All three of them are from Patna and live in Raghubir Nagar area of Delhi.
The injured were taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in West Delhi where they were provided treatment.
The police said poor construction material could be the reason behind the collapse.
“We were sitting on the other side of the road when all of a sudden we saw the building collapsing and we rushed near to check what was going on,” said an eyewitness.
Honey Singh, who runs a furniture shop in the same area, said construction activity has been going on in the building since the past one month and nobody was residing in it.
Jul 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-six-children-killed-in-school-roof-co...
Tragedy strikes Uttar Pradesh once again
Uttar Pradesh | Posted on Jul 28, 2012 at 03:01am IST
Six children killed in school roof collapse, probe ordered
Bijnor: Six students were killed and seven injured on Friday when roof of a private school collapsed in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh. A portion of the roof of Ramanand Public High School in Jalilpur village caved in this afternoon when the classes were going on and some students were trapped under the debris, police sources said.
Uttar Pradesh has government ordered an inquiry into the incident. Six students, Deepak Kumar (13), Shani (10), Sunny (12), Shohrat (13), Raghvendra (12) and Hariom (10) were killed in the incident, they said.
Police said that seven students were injured in the accident and were admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav while expressing grief over the incident had ordered an inquiry, an official spokesman said.
The chief minister has directed that proper treatment be provided to the injured students, he said.
Jul 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31319628/detail.html
Wall Of Denver Home Collapses
DENVER -- The wall of a home collapsed on Tuesday morning, leaving a gaping hole.It happened near 29th and Stout streets, just north of downtown Denver.Denver Fire officials said the wall of home fell outward onto a neighbors home and collapsed.
Video from AirTracker 7 showed several feet of the wall from the first home gone and lots of bricks on the ground in between the two homes.There were no injuries in either home, according to Phil Champagne with the Denver Fire Department.Firefighters boarded up the hole, but the family will have to stay elsewhere until officials determine the home is safe to occupy.
Jul 31, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/164416046.html
Longtime Local Business Collapses; Investigation Will Determine Why
MEXIA (July 31, 2012)—A downtown building in Mexia collapsed overnight, but the town’s fire chief says no one was injured.
Neighbors Cleaners, a longtime Mexia business, was left in rubble after a significant portion of the roof and the front of the building collapsed at around 7:30 p.m. Monday, Mexia Fire Chief Clayton Shivers said.
Shivers said the staff at the dry cleaners had taken off for summer vacation and no one was inside the building when it came down.
There was no indication Tuesday morning why the building fell.
The building sits at 209 E. Main Street, across from Mexia City Hall, Shivers said.
Two engine companies and an ambulance were at the scene for two to three hours.
Main Street had been cleared of debris by early Tuesday morning, but Shivers said it would take some time to clean up the collapsed building.
The collapse did major damage to the building and to its contents, Shivers said.
Jul 31, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1217...
One worker injured in Shenton Way multi-storey car park collapse
Posted: 02 August 2012 1814 hrs
SINGAPORE: A worker was injured after a portion of a multi-story car park in Shenton Way collapsed on Thursday evening.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the worker sustained minor back injuries and was given outpatient treatment at Singapore General Hospital.
Preliminary findings showed the collapse could have been caused by accumulated debris against the rear of the building.
The ministry has issued a stop work order for the site.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) added that part of the car park structure slab collapsed during demolition works.
It has also revoked the permit for demolition works and ordered detailed investigations to be carried out.
According to the professional engineer in charge of construction works for the project, the adjacent 39-storey UIC building tower, which is also due for demolition, has not been affected by the collapse.
As a precautionary measure, instructions have been given to prop up a portion of the car park structure facing Shenton Way.
Two lanes of Shenton Way have been closed while the propping works are carried out.
SCDF and the police said they received a call at about 4.45pm requesting assistance at the site at No. 5 Shenton Way.
SCDF said all 19 workers who were working in the area have been accounted for.
The collapsed portion measured about 30 metres by 20 metres.
SCDF personnel, including DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team), and search dogs conducted two search operations at the affected site.
One caller to the Channel NewsAsia hotline, Mr Jack Yu, said a loud boom was heard at around 4.40pm. He was working at the DBS building opposite the construction site.
"It was a very loud bang, like boom, and then the ground shook for a while. The construction site has been there for the past month, so we are used to the hammering sound and things like that but suddenly when the loud boom - we thought something must have happened," he said. cont.
Aug 2, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://post.jagran.com/7-seriously-injured-in-building-collapse-134...
Seven seriously injured, two trapped in building collapse
Posted on: 01 Aug 2012, 04:01 PM
Thrissur: Seven persons were seriously injured and two others trapped under rubble when an under construction building of Kerala Agricultural University at nearby Vellanikara collapsed this afternoon, police said.
The injured had been hospitalised, they said, adding efforts are on to extricated those trapped under the debris.
Aug 3, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.sahilonline.org/english/newsDetails.php?cid=1&nid=14788
Karwar: Two girl students were hospitalised after a pre-metric girl student�s hostel collapsed in Joida on Saturday afternoon. The hostel was being run by the department of backward classes and minority communities. They fell ill after listening to the sound of the building collapse. Nobody was injured in the incident, officials said.
According to the hostel inmates, they returned from school to the hostel afternoon. Soon they heard a defeaning noise and the building came crashing down. According to the officials, Shubhangi Desai and Tara Savanth collapsed after hearing the noise, were shifted to hospital.
A total of 125 girl students staying in the hostel, but all the students were playing outside when the accident took place.
The girls, who escaped un-hurt said that if the building collapsed at night there would have been serious causalities.
The local people blamed officials for inferior quality of work on the building. Senior officials visited the spot and said that the girls would be temporarily shifted to another building.
Aug 5, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31334514/detail.html
Boulders The Size Of Cars Hit Hwy. 119
Eastbound Side Of Highway Closed
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. -- The Colorado State Patrol says boulders the size of cars hit Highway 119 on Monday morning.The rockslide happened about three miles east of Nederland.The highway is blocked and it may not reopen until Monday evening.
No vehicles were hit by the slide, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Aug 6, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/633982-Two-injured-as-building-coll...
Two traders in Mityana town survived death when a building in which they were operating collapsed and left them with several injuries.
The incident occurred at around 1.00pm at Wabigalo trading center near Mityana town when the building still under construction crumbled.
The owner of the building, identified as Kawuki was not at his house by the time of the incident and did not appear, through the entireday. The building housed about five families in small rented rooms behind and four retails shops in the front.
Residents who gathered at the scene rushed the victims to St. Francis Hospital where they received medical attention.
The injured men are Steven Nyanzi, who operates a motor spare shop and Joseph Mwanje, a customer at one of the shops.
The incident left Nyanzi with a broken right hand and lef , was however referred to the Mityana main hospital on Thursday afternoon, as his conditions were still poor.
By 4pm, the police in Mityana had not visited the scene but the police spokes person for Western Buganda Phillip Mukasa said they had deployed detectives too investigate the matter.
Some of the residents who spoke to The Newvision blamed the accident to the delayed work f the construction of the Mityana to Kampala highway, saying that the heavy trucks have weakened the houses.
“The trucks have weakened the houses and many have cracks, which indicate that soon they will collapse. The running water from the trenches are also going through people’s houses which is weakening them further,” Edward Kayondo said. continues
Aug 10, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.vosizneias.com/111623/2012/08/13/jerusalem-top-floor-of-...
Jerusalem - Top Floor Of Building Collapses In Geula, 2 Injured (video)
Jerusalem - The top floor of a building that was under construction in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Geula neighborhood in Jerusalem collapsed on Monday morning, injuring two workers.
One worker suffered a broken leg and the other was injured moderately. Immediately after the collapse firefighters searched the building but did not find anyone trapped inside.
As is typical with incidents in haredi neighborhoods, thousands of curious onlookers gathered around the site of the accident, forcing police to call in larger forces for crowd control.
Police detained the foreman of the project for questioning. Traffic was closed on Malchei Yisrael Street, the site of the collapse. Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat arrived on the scene to inspect the damages.
According to eyewitnesses, the building began to sway slowly before it collapsed, allowing most of the people to clear away from the site before the top part of the building came crashing down.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Aug 13, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/two-workers-in...
Two workers injured in Leesburg roof collapse
Two construction workers were injured when a roof of a Leesburg church that is under construction collapsed Monday afternoon, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Mary Maguire.
The two workers were on the roof of the building on Evergreen Mills Road shortly before 12:30 p.m. when the trusses — which provide structural support — collapsed, Maguire said.
“They rode the trusses down to the ground, about 30 to 40 feet,” she said.
One worker was pinned beneath the trusses, she said, and is currently being taken by helicopter to an area hospital. She declined to comment on his condition.
The other worker was not pinned, Maguire said, and is being evaluated at the scene to determine whether he needs to be taken to a hospital.
There were no other injuries reported in the incident, Maguire said.
Aug 13, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Over-15-trees-upr...
Over 15 trees uprooted, two houses collapse
TNN | Aug 14, 2012, 02.28AM ISTAHMEDABAD: Monday was a busy day for the men in blue as Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) received over 30 calls related to house collapses, fire and trees falling. According to AFES officials, after the rains on Sunday and Monday, they received at least 15 calls from areas such as Vastrapur, Kankaria, Maninagar, Naranpura, Vijay crossroads, Navrangpura, Saraspur, Vasna, Gomtipur and Sola. Three parked cars and an autorickshaw were damaged in these incidents, said officials.
Rajesh Bhatt, additional chief fire officer, AFES, told TOI that two fires were reported during the rains. "A chemical unit in Vatva GIDC reported a fire due to a short-circuit in a storage facility in the morning. In the evening, a home in Bimanagar, Odhav was severely damaged after an LPG blast. No one was reported severely injured in these incidents," he said.
He added that a building opposite Law Garden also reported a small fire after a spark in an electric box on the ground floor of the building. A balcony collapsed in Raipur. At 2.30 pm, the balcony of Jethalal Building near Raipur Bhajiya House collapsed as its foundation was weakened. As the shops below were shut down, no injuries were reported.
Aug 14, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Building-collapses-in-Russell...
Really a crane collapse.
Building collapses in Russellville, kills one
RUSSELLVILLE, AR – One man is dead after a building collapsed in Russellville Tuesday morning, FOX16 has learned.
According to reports, the building is located near Baker Refrigeration on Highway 7 North.
Pope County Office of Emergency Director Jim Campbell tells FOX16 that the victim, 64-year-old Burl Darter, was helping to move a small building when it somehow came loose from the straps as a crane lifted it into the air.
According to Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout, the building fell to the left and hit Darter, who died at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
Aug 14, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://hillpost.in/2012/08/20/heavy-rain-damages-road-network-build...
Heavy rain damages road network, building collapses in Shimla
Shimla: One under construction and another 11 year old concrete structured building collapsed in Totu suburb late last night but not before they were evacuated and no loss to human lives is reported.
Collapsed houses reduced to rubble: Photo – Amit
Sub inspector Shiv Kumar, after inspecting the spot told Hill Post that a partially constructed building with 3 reinforced concrete slabs and a four and a half storied 11 year old building suffered complete loss.
“Cracks have appeared in a nearby building and its occupants have been evacuated for that structure too may collapse,” said Kumar.
“We got information about the building collapse at 10.30 p.m., said the police officer.
A developed plot in the vicinity has also been washed down in the heavy downpour that the hills received over the last 24 hours
In all, 4 families consisting of about 20 people have been rendered homeless.
Elsewhere from the state, heavy rain damages are reported with several roads blocked due to landslides or have been washed away by surging streams and rivers.
Dharamsala recorded 182 mm of rain in 24 hours, while it was 111 mm at Sujjanpur Tira, 80 mm as Kasauli, 76 mm at Hamirpur, 50.4 mm at Sundernagar and in Shimla it was 45.4 mm.
Rail traffic in Kangra was hit as part of the track was blocked by a landslide. More than 60 road routes were hit by roadblocks because of rock fall or landslides.
The meterological office has issued a warning forecast that heavy to very heavy rain was likely to be experienced in the region over the next 48 hours as easterly winds were prevailing over the western Himalayan region at lower levels and interacting with mid latitude westerlies over the region.
The Southwest Monsoon was vigorous over the state during last 24 hours and precipitation occurred at most places in Himachal Pradesh with very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places, said the weatherman..
ws/ravinder
Aug 20, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Building-collapse...
Building collapses, 12-year-old girl killed
TNN | Aug 25, 2012, 12.20AM ISTAHMEDABAD: The world seemed to come crashing down on the small group of students and their tuition teacher at Pipla ni Pol in Raipur on Friday morning. The building they were in collapsed like a house of cards. One of the students died and seven were injured.
Jigna Dalwadi, the instructor was teaching her batch of seven students when the building gave way.
A 12-year old girl, Hardi Contractor - died and the seven others injured sustained severe injuries to their heads and bodies. Those admitted to the V S Hospital include Rajvi Deepak, 8; Rajesh Prajapati, 11; Nanda Dalwadi, 12; Shubham Rana, 12; Jigna Dalwadi, 28; Amit Dalwadi, 35; and Alka Modi, 42.
Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) launched a rescue operation with help of local residents. The work continued till late in the evening as the remainder of the tottering structure was brought down by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to prevent any further incident.
Rajesh Bhatt, additional chief fire officer, AFES, told TOI that they are yet to find out what triggered the collapse. "One side of the building gave way. Half the floor was empty, while the other half was being used for as tuition class by a tenant. As there were people involved, we manually removed the rubble, found the victims and took them to safety. In half an hour, we found the victims huddled at one part, under the debris and sent them to hospital. Our work however continued till late afternoon as the building had to be demolished. The structure was made mainly of wood in the old construction style and was connected with houses nearby," said Bhatt. AMC officials said the building was constructed in 1872 and was included in the heritage-house list. It was however not under the 'dangerous building' category. I K Patel, deputy municipal commissioner, central zone, told TOI that there are 300 buildings considered dangerous or partially dangerous in the latest list prepared by civic authorities.
"Next week onwards, an inspection will be carried out to prevent such accidents due to occupancy of dangerous structures," he said.
Aug 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Private Home Collapses in Queens
http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2012/aug/24/private-home-c...
Friday, August 24, 2012 - 04:26 PM
Firefighters are responding to a building collapse on 231st Street in Queens. (@FDNY via Twitter)
More than 100 firefighters are on the scene of a Queens home that collapsed Friday afternoon.
Three people were brought to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
A spokesman for the fire department said the home may have been under construction.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation.
Aug 25, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-19395174
Side of Egremont house falls into River Ehen
Side of Egremont house falls into River Ehen.
Water damage caused the side of a house to fall into the River Ehen at Egremont in Cumbria, police said.
The Bridge End property was empty at the time and it is thought flooding caused the rear wall to break away.
The building was so badly damaged that it had to be demolished and surrounding structures made safe.
No-one was hurt in the collapse, but two nearby homes were evacuated as engineers said there was a danger of falling debris.
Police said roads would be closed in the surrounding area "for some time".
Falling debrisThe collapse caused a gas leak, but the area has now been made safe.
A joint statement from Cumbria Police, Copeland Council and the Environment Agency said: "The rear of the property collapsed early on Tuesday and following structural assessments the building is now being taken down.
"The house was not occupied at the time and the owners are aware of the situation.
"The residents of the neighbouring property were away at the time of the collapse and that property remains safe at this time.
"Two nearby homes were evacuated to eliminate the risk of falling debris."
A temporary flood defence is being put in place while the demolition, overseen by Copeland Council, takes place.
A flood alert remains in place for the River Ehen.
Aug 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48801356/ns/local_news-philadelphia_pa/...
Rain Causes Partial Collapse in Germantown
Heavy rains early Monday led to the partial collapse of a three-story building at Germantown and Chelten Avenue in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
Police say around 10:00 a.m., huge slabs of brick fell 30 feet from the third floor of the building, falling to the ground at a very busy sidewalk with a Dunkin' Donuts on the first floor.
Police say around 10:00 a.m., huge slabs of brick fell 30 feet from the third floor of the building, falling to the ground at a very busy sidewalk with a Dunkin' Donuts on the first floor.
"This is a really busy bus stop so we're fortunate that we have no injuries," said Lt.Anthony Buchanico, Philadelphia Police.
The ceiling on the second floor of the building also collapsed, said Buchanico.
All businesses in the building are closed until they are determined to be safe and caution tape is blocking the sidewalk.
The SEPTA bus stop at that corner has been moved a block away.
Police say that the Department of Licenses and Inspections will be out at the location to check out the building.
Aug 28, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-irel...
Ceiling in famous Titanic drawing offices collapses
The ceiling in the Titanic drawing rooms where the ill-fated liner was designed has collapsed.
Only three years ago, developers were considering converting the listed building into a hotel.
The drawing rooms were renowned for their high roofs, open floor spaces and luxury decor that was similar to that of the ship itself — and are a Mecca for Titanic enthusiasts.
They have lain unused by the shipyard for decades and have fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years.
But as interest in Titanic surged before the centenary of its sinking, the spacious rooms hosted exhibitions, a catwalk fashion show, the filming of advertisements and even an edition of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.
There are plans for the rooms’ refurbishment, but no firm action has yet been agreed to preserve them.
The Titanic Foundation — which is responsible for the building — confirmed that at the end of June part of the plaster ceiling had collapsed.
Concerns have been raised as to whether the building is safe for visitors and there are said to be issues regarding water entering it during bad weather. It is believed that heavy rainfall during June was to blame for the damage .
An architectural heritage company has now been called in by the Titanic Foundation to survey the failing structure.
Work to repair the damage is due to commence shortly, although it is unknown how long it will take to complete.
Back in 2009, developers revealed plans to turn the drawing rooms into a hotel.
At the time, a spokesman for the Titanic Quarter project confirmed that developers were planning to use the drawing room offices as part of a hotel. “The proposed restoration of the drawing offices is part of an ongoing scheme to restore all of the former Harland & Wolff headquarters building,” the spokesman said.
“This listed building is a unique reminder of Belfast's Titanic heritage and Titanic Quarter is working closely with Environment & Heritage to ensure that it is returned to its former glory and that the drawing offices are opened to the public for the first time in their history.
“The principle of public access has been agreed, but the detail is still to be worked out dependent upon the final use of the building.”
It is unknown whether those plans are still being considered.
Aug 29, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.asianage.com/delhi/3-die-e-delhi-house-collapse-125
3 die in E. Delhi house collapse
Aug 31, 2012
Three persons were killed and five other sustained severe injuries after a portion of an underconstruction building collapsed in Gandhi Nagar area of east Delhi.
The incident occurred at around 11.30 am on Thursday in Street No. 5, Ajit Nagar, Gandhi Nagar.
Apparently, the owner Ashok Jain was constructing two more floors to the three storied building. “Around ten people who were passing through the street were crushed when the third floor of the building suddenly collapsed and fell,” said a senior police official.
Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot for the rescue operation. The injured were taken to the nearby hospital where three were declared brought dead and two were discharged after treatment.
One deceased has been identified as Umar Mohammed a resident of village Haranpur, UP, while two others are still unidentified. The deceased is said to be a rickshawpuller.
“The injured were identified as Abdulla, 17, his brother Aarif, 18, Kapil Pandey, 48, Mohit, 20, and Ajay, 23. Abdulla and Aarif were shifted to the Hedgewar Hospital after their condition deteriorated,” said the police official.
A complaint has been lodged for causing hurt under Sections 337 and 304. The police said that Ajay was not at home at the time of the incident.
“He runs a factory on the first floor of the house. He was adding two more floors for commercial activities,” said the police official.
Aug 30, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/33961/2012/09/02/2_killed_3_injur...
2 Killed, 3 Injured As Traditional Ruler’s Home Collapses
Sun, 02/09/2012 - 4:47am
At least two people were killed while three others were seriously injured yesterday when parts of the royal home of the ‘Galadima of Bauchi,’ Alhaji Ibrahim Sa’idu Jahun at Unguwar Ganjuwa in the Bauchi metropolis collapsed.
Our correspondent who visisted the scene reports that the incident occurred around 12: 50pm even though there was no rainfall.
Confirming the incident to LEADERSHIP Sunday, the ward head of ‘Unguwar Ganjuwa’ Malam Abu Ibrahim explained that the two people who died were a man and a woman, while the rest that sustained injuries were evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital [ATBUTH] Bauchi for treatment.
He revealed that this was the first time the tallest mud wall in the area collapsed on the people, urging the residents who live close to the building to vacate the place pending the end of the rainy season.
Abu Ibrahim who condoled with the families of the victims added that the deceased have since been buried according to Islamic rites.
While the residents of the area who trooped out to the scene lamented that the traditional ruler’s wall poses a threat to them appealing to him to destroy and rehabilitate the outdated building with a view to protecting their lives.
They also called on the government to compensate the families of the victims in order to alleviate their pains.
When he visited the area, the Galadima of Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Sa’idu Jahun who is also a king maker and district head of Zungur in the Bauchi emirate, said he was saddened by the incident and commiserated with the victims and their families.
He prayed Allah to forgive the deceased and wished the injured persons quick recovery, even as he also asked the neighbours who live near the building to quit until when the rains stop.
The ‘Galadima’ who assured that something would be done to prevent the building from further collapse prayed that such sad event will not recur in the future.
Sep 2, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4784535/south-georgia-church-colla...
South Georgia church collapses into pile of rubble
THOMASVILLE, Ga. -- Members of a south Georgia congregation are planning their next steps after their church building collapsed.
Church members gathered on Labor Day morning at a pile of rubble that housed St. Thomas AME Church in Thomasville for the past 88 years.
The Thomasville Times-Enterprise reports (http://bit.ly/RGFaOp) that children playing nearby heard a loud noise coming from the direction of the church Saturday afternoon.
Pastor Clement Choice's wife, Pat, says church members then discovered that the roof had fallen into to the middle of the building.
No one was injured. Authorities say three nearby houses were evacuated after the collapse when it was feared the church bell tower might fall onto a transformer.
Church members said they've had concerns about structural issues, and had been holding services elsewhere in recent months.
Sep 4, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8798403
Man injured in Kensington partial building collapse
KENSINGTON - September 5, 2012 (WPVI) -- One person is hospitalized following a partial building collapse in Philadelphia's Kensington section.
Emergency responders were called shortly after 8:00 a.m. for the report of a person trapped following a partial building collapse on the 1400 block of N. Phillip Street.
The victim was reportedly trapped on an upper floor before being freed and transported to an area hospital. There is now word the extent of his injuries.
Sep 5, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ae4hI8PvBro
Courthouse parking garage collapsed in Broward County Ft. Lauderdale, FL
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Two days after portions of a four-story Broward courthouse garage came crashing down, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has released stunning new video of the incident as it happened.
The video comes from two different surveillance cameras pointed at the garage when it came down on Wednesday, Sept. 5th.
Structural engineers from the city and county continue to try and determine what caused the building to collapse during demolition.
Sep 8, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Construction-Collapse-Brooklyn...
1 Dead in BK Construction Site Collapse
Five workers were on top of the building at 227 Carlton Ave. in Fort Greene, when I-beams gave way and the structure collapse
Monday, Sep 10, 2012
A construction worker is dead and another is in critical condition after they fell three stories from the roof of a residential building that collapsed in Brooklyn Monday morning, emergency personnel said.
Five workers were on top of the building at 227 Carlton Ave. in Fort Greene, when I-beams gave way and the structure collapsed around 9:30 a.m., authorities said.
Two workers fell about 30 feet. One man was taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. The other was in serious condition with non life-threatening injuries at Kings County Hospital, officials said.
Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri called it a "sad day on this construction site." He said it took emergency crews 20 minutes to extricate the workers who fell from the roof into the basement.
Of the other three workers on the roof at the time, two were able to get to another rooftop. The third was hanging onto the side of the structure and managed to pull himself up.
Forensic engineers will be at the site throughout the day looking at debris and checking the weight and frequency of deliveries of materials to the top of the building, LiMandri said. Investigators will also look into who authorized those deliveries.
According to the Buildings Department website, no violations were issued and permits had been handed out for construction at the four-story, two-family building, officials said.
Sep 10, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/six-dead-four-missing-after-sh...
Seven dead, many missing after Shubra building collapse
Seven people were killed and four are missing after a four-story building collapsed in Khalafawi, Shubra, on Wednesday.
A search is underway for the missing residents.
A failure by local authorities to execute demolition orders on time, and the unauthorized construction of additional floors, are typically behind catastrophic building collapses, the frequency of which has been increasing in recent years.
In July, at least 19 people died in four buildings that collapsed in Gomrok, Alexandria also due to illegal construction. The owner was arrested days later.
Sep 12, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wowktv.com/story/19571678/roof-on-huntington-building-co...
Roof on Huntington building collapses
Posted: Sep 18, 2012 10:21 AM ADT Updated: Sep 18, 2012 11:09 AM ADT
Roof on Huntington building collapses
A roof collapsed on a building in Huntington early Tuesday morning.
The owner of the building said it happened at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at a building near the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street. Bricks and debris are on the sidewalk next to the building.
Traffic coming off the Sixth Street Bridge into Huntington is down to one lane because of the collapse.
The owner said the building was being used for storage, and he was hoping to refurbish it in the near future.
He said it was an older building and was not sure if the overnight rain played a role.
Sep 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/nine-killed-assiut-building-co...
Nine killed in Assiut building collapse
The Civil Defense Authority said Thursday that the search is ongoing for victims buried in the rubble after a building collapse killed nine people in Assiut on Wednesday night.
The four-story building in downtown Assiut belonged to a retired army general, Zidan Abdallah. Abdallah and his wife were among those killed in the collapse.
The Ministry of Social Affairs Child and Maternal Care Department had rented out one floor of the building.
The governor’s secretary, Yacoub Emam, said the owners of the building were carrying out reconstruction work before it collapsed.
“The residents of the next building were evacuated after part of it collapsed as well, and it is being inspected,” said Emam.
Such collapses are common in Egypt as thousands of buildings are built in violation of safety regulations, and maintenance of old structures rarely takes place.
Sep 20, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-18807-sorouh-courtyar...
Sorouh courtyard collapses: 200 residents evacuate
by CW Staff on Oct 1, 2012
The collapse of a ground-level courtyard into an underground car park at Sorouh’s Al Rayyana development last night forced hundreds of tenants to leave their homes, reported TheNational.
The incident affected five residential buildings surrounding the courtyard, and developer Sorouh made alternate housing arrangements for the 200 or so people evacuated.
The area was cordoned off with police tape and Civil Defence staff took to the site to assess the damage.
Gurjit Singh, chief operating officer of Sorouh, visited the scene and said that slab of concrete had fallen into the car park below in an isolated incident.
"Everybody's wellbeing is being looked after and we are currently making alternative accommodation arrangements for the tenants,”
Oct 1, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/building-collapses-in-c...
2 killed in building collapses in Chennai
A residential building suspected to be over 80-years-old collapsed in Chennai on Wednesday morning. The owner of the building and one of the tenants died in the accident. Several persons have been hospitalised.
The two-storey building at Sunguvar Street in Triplicane, which also housed a printing press, collapsed with a loud noise around 7.15 a.m.
Fire and rescue personnel are fighting to rescue those trapped. No victim was spotted under the debris till 9.30 a.m.
The few residents who escaped unhurt, turned volunteers at the spot, regulating the crowd and clearing debris. Many volunteers came to the spot after listening to the news on television. Residents, who are all tenants, say that they have lost everything in the collapse.
Oct 5, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Landslide+southwest+China+buries+s...
Landslide in southwest China buries 18 students in collapsed elementary school building
BEIJING — A landslide in southwestern China has toppled an elementary school building and buried 18 students and another person.
The Chinese government said the landslide struck a village in Yiliang county in Yunnan province on Thursday morning.
A statement on the Yiliang government website says the landslide caused a school to collapse and that 18 students were believed to have been in the building. Another person was trapped when a few houses were toppled.
A county foreign affairs office staffer says the village is a three-hour drive from the county seat and that rescuers have arrived at the site.
The statement says nearby residents have been moved from the area.
Oct 5, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/workers-trapped-fla-garage-colla...
MIAMI October 10, 2012 (AP)
2 Dead, 1 Trapped in Fla. Parking Garage Collapse
A section of a parking garage under construction at a community college collapsed Wednesday, killing two people and trapping two others in the rubble, officials said. One worker was rescued amid the debris, but there was too much concrete around the other to immediately get him out.
At least 10 other workers were hurt when the roof of the five-story concrete garage fell, creating a pancake-style collapse on the campus of Miami-Dade College, officials said.
"It was a floor upon floor, collapsing all the way down to the ground floor," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. Louie Fernandez said.
The trapped worker was pinned inside a vehicle. He was receiving oxygen, had an IV inserted into him and was being treated by a physician and a paramedic. Officials did not describe the extent of his injuries. They said it could be hours — possibly even days — before they can rescue him.
"It's going to be a long, tedious effort," Fernandez said.
Dogs, firefighters and other people in hard hats walked over piles of concrete, plywood and metal to look for other possible victims. Authorities believed at least one more worker was still unaccounted for, and they were trying to make sure everyone else was OK. Many workers left the site without telling authorities.
Victoria Buczynski of Miami said she saw the collapse while she was working at Gurkha Cigars across the street from the construction site at the Miami-Dade College.
"It fell to the ground like a house of cards," Buczynski said. "The construction workers started running out, screaming. It was loud. Our entire building shook."
No students were in the area at the time. They campus was evacuated and closed for the rest of the week. Investigators planned to pick through the rubble to see what caused the garage to crumble.
"We just know that the roof collapsed," Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Griselle Marino said.
William P. Byrne, president and chief executive officer of the garage contractor, Ajax Building Corp., said an internal review was being launched to determine the cause. Byrne said the company would embrace "any additional protocols, policies and procedures that will enhance and ensure the continued priority of safety."
Marino said three people were initially trapped in the rubble, including the man who died. Another eight were taken to a hospital, she said. Two injured workers were treated on the scene.
One of the rescued was pulled out from under a steal beam by four firefighters. His face and hands were bloody and he was put on a stretcher and carried away, according to a video shot by Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue and provided to The Associated Press.
The construction site looked like a typical one. A large crane stood beside the pile of rubble. Pickup trucks, trash bins and a tractor-trailer were nearby, as were ladders, a cooler and piles of wood.
Ground was broken on the $22.5 million project in February, and the 1,855-space garage was to be finished in December, according Ajax's website.
The first floor was to have classroom and office space. The structure is next to the college's main office building and nestled among other campus buildings.
The college serves about 8,000 students and is one of several campuses in the Miami-Dade College system. This campus opened in 2006.
Oct 11, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/alexandria-building-collapse-k...
Alexandria building collapse kills four, injures eight
2nd building to collapse in a month.
Four people were killed and eight others were injured when a three-story building collapsed on Safar Street in Alexandria's Gomrok district Monday.
Rescue workers retrieved the victims' bodies. The dead include two children, 6 and 2 years old.
The wounded residents were taken to the Alexandria University Hospital.
Alexandria had seen several fatal collapses recently; with the same district witnessing an earlier collapse a month ago, killing 19.
Failure by local authorities to execute demolition orders on time and the unauthorized construction of additional floors are the primary culprits behind catastrophic building collapses, of which Egypt has witnessed an increase in over the past few years.
Oct 15, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Partial-Building-Collapse-Harl...
Partial Building Collapse in Harlem Seriously Injures 2 People
Inspectors with the Department of Buildings were at the building Tuesday evening, checking other apartments and determining the building's stability
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012
A partial building collapse in Harlem Tuesday afternoon left two people seriously injured, authorities said.
According to fire officials, around 5:30 p.m. a partial collapse confined to one apartment took place on the second floor of a seven-story building on West 151st Street in Hamilton Heights.
Two people were injured and taken to St. Lukes Hospital, where they were listed in serious but stable condition.
Inspectors with the Department of Buildings were at the building Tuesday evening, checking other apartments and determining the building's stability.
Street closures were in effect around building as police and firefighters remained at the scene
Oct 17, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Another building collapse in China.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-10/18/content_15829093.htm
Building collapse leaves 3 dead, 5 injured in N China
Updated: 2012-10-18 20:11
TIANJIN - Three people were killed and five injured Thursday after a building under construction collapsed in north China's Tianjin Municipality, local authorities said.
A factory building at Tesida Food Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. in Wuqing district collapsed at about 1 p.m., crushing eight construction workers, the municipal publicity department said in a statement.
Three workers were confirmed dead and five injured by 5:30 p.m., it said.
The injured are currently being treated at hospital.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.
Oct 18, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Third building collapse in Alexandria, Egypt.
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/three-rescued-four-still-missi...
A three-story building in Alexandria collapsed on Friday. Security forces have rescued three survivors, but continue to search for at least four others under the rubble.
Security sources say the collapse was not due to the 5.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the city early this morning, but was probably triggered by the unlicensed construction of a nearby building.
The collapsed building was located on the Mahmoudeya water channel in the Hagar al-Nowateya area.
Alexandria has seen several fatal collapses recently. Nineteen were killed when a building collapsed in the same district one month ago.
Failure by local authorities to execute demolition orders on time and the unauthorized construction of additional floors are the primary culprits behind these increasing, catastrophic building collapses.
Oct 20, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
Eight hospitalized as half-constructed building collapsed in downto...
A half-constructed building collapsed in Yerevan, Armenia today, leaving eleven workers trapped under the rubble.
Eight of the workers were taken to St. Grigor Lusavorich Hospital, the others had no injuries.
The buildings collapsed as a result of heaviness of the iron armatures.
According to Nikolay Grigoryan, Deputy Director of the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, it will be possible speak more precisely about the reasons of the collapse only after the expertise.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/10/25/eight-hospitalized-as-half-con...
Oct 26, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.news.com.au/world/roof-collapse-kills-two-supermarket-sh...
Update: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/10/26/5-dead-11-missing-...
Roof collapse kills 5 supermarket shoppers, 11 still missing
Firefighters use shopping carts to remove debris from a supermarket after the roof collapsed in Neuquen, Argentina. Picture: AP Source: AP
The roof cave-in at the Cooperativa Obrera supermarket in Neuquen, located 1,153 kilometers (715 miles) southwest of Buenos Aires, occurred Thursday night for reasons currently under investigation.
"The bodies are being recovered and began being taken out at midnight in a very complex task. They're working under slabs, which makes the process more difficult," Bermudez said.
Cooperativa Obrera, meanwhile, said in a statement that the causes of the collapse are unknown and that its priority is to "accompany and ensure adequate assistance to those affected." EFE
Oct 26, 2012
KM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20237230
Ghana, West Africa
Ghana department store collapses in Accra
A multi-storey department store has collapsed in Ghana's capital, Accra, with many people believed to be trapped inside.
Rescue efforts are under way, with reports that least three people have been killed.
The BBC's Sammy Darko, who is at the scene of the Melcom store collapse, says he has seen one person rescued.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said he has suspended his electoral campaign for next month's poll.
“Start Quote
Ama Okyere EyewitnessAccra's mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, is reportedly at the scene in the Achimota neighbourhood of Accra with rescue workers who are trying to clear the rubble and get oxygen masks to survivors.
"I was very close to the mall because I was going to buy something only for me to see the building coming down," resident Ama Okyere told the AFP news agency.
"I had to run for my life. I was so terrified. I believe there are lots of people trapped under this because this is a heavily patronised shopping mall in the area."
Our correspondent says it is feared that up to 200 people could be trapped.
Family members have been trying to call relatives feared trapped beneath the rubble on their mobile phones, AFP reports.
Another witness, John Owusu, said he heard a bang before the building collapsed.
President Mahama, in a tweet moments after the building collapsed, said: "My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the Achimota Melcom building."
Nov 7, 2012
Kojima
[Ghana; 2012-11-07, 2011-10-18, 2011-02-17]
* Blog Post 'Buildings and Roadway Collapse, A Daily Happening' [Added by KM on November 7, 2012]
Ghana department store collapses in Accra
* Blog Post 'Bridges and tunnels at risk everywhere' [Comment by Starr DiGiacomo on October 18, 2011]
The road that links Asankragua and Enchi in the Western Region has been cut off due to the collapse of the bridge that links the two towns.
The collapsed bridge is across River Tano and serves as a link to Wassa Amenfi West which is the leading cocoa growing area in the country followed by the Aowin - Suaman district. The 82-meter steel Bridge was constructed during the establishment of the AT&T, a timber firm, over fifty (50) years ago by the Ghana government, but has not seen any major repair works. The bridge reportedly collapsed on August 2, 2011.
* Ghana: Tremor rattles villages across Ghana [Added by khan on February 17, 2011]
Residents of some communities in Accra at dawn on Wednesday experienced what eyewitnesses described as an earth tremor.
Nov 8, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/11/08/3-removed-from-collapse...
Investigators looking into the cause of the collapse.
Video in linkhttp://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoC...
3 Removed From Collapsed Building In West Philadelphia
November 8, 2012 11:47 AM
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The side wall of a three story apartment building collapsed Thursday morning in West Philadelphia.
Three tenants inside at the time of the collapse were not injured.
The brick wall on the second and third floors collapsed onto a vacant lot and the sidewalk on Cambridge Street, near 40th Street in Mantua shortly after 11 a.m.
“I was just sitting in my truck, listening to the radio,” says Alphonso Asber. “I just a heard a loud kaboom, like it was a gas explosion or something. The vibration sort of shook the truck a little bit.”
“It was a big noise and kind of dust and stuff came up,” says Darren Ross, who was home in bed in his second floor apartment. “(It) basically shook me out of bed.”
The collapse allowed a clear view into the apartments where a sink with water shooting out could be seen by onlookers outside.
Fortunately, the floors and the the rest of the structure held, and the residents were able to get out safely.
Nov 9, 2012
KM
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/09/sherbrooke-explosion-deaths...
Deadly Sherbrooke Blast's Cause Still Unknown
CBC | Posted: 11/09/2012 6:26 pm EST Updated: 11/09/2012 10:51 pm EST
The mayor of Sherbrooke says his entire community is in shock following the violent explosion at an industrial plant Thursday that killed two and injured 17 others.
"It's a tragedy," Bernard Sévigny said, adding the city lowered its flag to half-mast out of respect for those injured and killed.
"Today, the first thoughts go to the families, the workers."
The cause of the blast is under investigation.
Sévigny said there are still containers of acetone at the plant, which has been largely reduced to a pile of debris.
"Our firefighters are on the site today to try to get the containers out of the plant," he said.
"There is a lot of work to do and [that could take] the whole weekend."
Massive fire followed explosion
The blast happened at about 1:30 p.m. ET at Neptune Technologies et Bioressources Inc., located in an industrial area on Pépin Street.
The company makes health products from krill oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids.
The explosion sparked a massive fire that took emergency crews hours to get under control and triggered fears of toxic exposure due to the acetone at the site.
Environment Quebec later said the fumes from the fire were not toxic and local residents should not be worried.
2 killed, 17 injured
When rescue workers entered the building, they found the bodies of two people, as well as a woman in severe shock.
In total, 17 people were rushed to Sherbrooke University Hospital Centre with injuries ranging from shock to severe burns.
The hospital's director of nursing said Friday morning that the majority of those patients had since been released from hospital. Two remained at the facility to be treated for shock.
Four others were transported to Montreal for treatment of burns.
Sévigny said the plant employs more than 100 people, and the impact of the human loss and the damage to the building is being felt throughout the community.
The mayor said he met with the company's directors earlier Friday and their staff is struggling to fully understand what has happened.
"It's quite difficult for everybody here," he said.
Nov 10, 2012
Kojima
Nov 11, 2012
KM
A further two buildings in the Sherbrooke/Montreal area along the St. Lawrence Seaway were affected by fire...
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Factory+blasts+condo+fire+prompt+...
Factory blasts, condo fire prompt Quebec probe
Two dead, 21 injured in Sherbrooke explosions
Authorities are investigating three major fires that erupted within a single day in Quebec.
The worst began with a an explosion that destroyed a biotech plant near Sherbrooke, killing two people and sending 19 to hospital.
One of the injured, a 42-year-old man, is in critical but stable condition at a Montreal burn unit, with burns to 90 per cent of his body. Three other men were seriously burned but in stable condition. Two of them sustained burns to their respiratory tract.
"The patient with the extensive skin burns also has an extensive inhalation injury," said Isabelle Perreault, who heads the severe-burn unit at the McGill University Hospital Centre.
She noted that the chance of survival from serious burns decreases when a victim also has a significant inhalation injury. Perreault was more confident about the condition of the other patients.
A huge explosion, which could be heard for kilometres, was followed by a series of smaller blasts and a fire, which destroyed a production plant belonging to Neptune Technologies & Bioressources. A terrified survivor was found later in the rubble.
The company produces health products, such as fish oil. Company shares plunged more than 10 per cent and trading was halted after Thursday's explosion.
It's still unclear what caused the fire.
A similar incident occurred hours later, at a Bombardier Recreational Products complex in Valcourt, about 40 kilometres west of Sherbrooke.
Two people were seriously burned.
Quebec provincial police said the blast occurred just after midnight Friday morning.
It said the victims were a 38-yearold employee and a 54-year-old security guard. Both were taken to a hospital in Quebec City and remained in a medically induced coma early Friday.
The province's workplace health and safety commission was investigating.
Meanwhile, an investigation into a spectacular Montreal blaze was being transferred to the local police. Nobody was injured in that fire, which occurred in an unfinished condo project in Old Montreal.
Nov 11, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
WAPPINGERS FALLS, New York State - U.S.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20121122/NEWS01/12112200...
A partial building collapse in Wappingers Falls closes off Main Street/Route 9D today.
Wappingers Falls Building Collapse: Village residents and Mayor Alexander talk about the partial collapse of the village building.
Buildings evacuated after early morning structure collapse; see photo gallery, video
WAPPINGERS FALLS — Authorities responded to a partial building collapse in the village this morning.
The incident was reported around 5 a.m. Main Street/Route 9D were closed between Mill Street and Market Street, village police Commissioner Carl Calabrese said.
The buildings on each side of the partially collapsed structure were also evacuated. All of the buildings are mixed commercial/residential.
A handful of onlookers observed as officials worked to stabilize the structure, level by level.
They said once the building is stabilized, what happens to it will be up to the village engineer.
Village officials are investigating what caused the collapse, but said they believe the age of the structure, which they said was built in the late 1800s, was a factor.
It's not clear when the building was last structurally inspected.
“A good portion of the building collapsed from the second floor down,” Calabrese said. “You can see the inside of the bedroom, so it’s all the way through.”
At least one family was home at the time, but there were no injuries. The Red Cross assisted the displaced residents. Another family had relatives to go to, he said.
Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander, who owns the building next door, said the area will be blocked off until further notice to ensure safety.
The building houses the Falls Diner and multiple residential apartments.
Nov 24, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/two-dead-five-others-injured-in-...
Two dead, five others injured in Mumbai building collapse
Updated: December 03, 2012 19:39 IST
Mumbai: Two people, including one woman were killed and five others got injured when a part of a central Mumbai collapsed on Monday. The second floor of the building, Victoria House situated in the Kamala Mills compound, was completely damaged.
The building is situated on the Elphinstone Road.
Rescue operations are on. Some people are still believed to be trapped under the debris.
A crack in the building was reportedly noticed at around 11 am after which an evacuation process began. It is during this time that the second floor of the building caved in.
There is no confirmation about the number of people present inside the building at the time of the incident.
Dec 3, 2012
Starr DiGiacomo
http://allafrica.com/stories/201212030393.html
Namibia: Shopping Mall Collapses, Deaths Confirmed
By Francis Xoagub, 3 December 2012
Ondangwa — The interior of a shopping centre in central Ondangwa collapsed on Sunday morning, killing at least two people inside a retail shop, and causing structural damage to the rest of the building.
Two people including a child were confirmed dead, while three were seriously injured. The search and rescue mission took on a slow start, as emergency teams feared a rescue attempt could trigger the building to cave in further, as the sound of a snapping structure, including pillars, were still audible for some time.
A concrete beam collapsed inside the building occupied by retail chain Pick 'n Pay B6 Ondangwa at around 10:20am. "We are tremendously shocked and overwhelmed by the unfortunate loss in lives and injuries that occurred as a result of a concrete-beam that collapsed in the rental building that Pick 'n Pay (PnP) leases in Ondangwa. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of this unfortunate incident," Pick 'n Pay said in a statement yesterday afternoon.
Thousands of curious onlookers rushed to the scene of the accident immediately after the collapse of the building, blocking efforts by rescue crews to search for people who were feared buried under the debris.
It is believed that heavy rain in the north over the weekend caused a supposedly fragile interior wall and ceiling of the Pick 'n Pay store to collapse, while people were doing their Sunday shopping.
"I heard what sounded like air-conditioner units falling to the ground, lots of bangs and crashes," said a shopper who survived and witnessed the incident. The adjacent Bank Windhoek branch was closed at the time of the incident.
"On behalf of the Executive Chairman, Sven Thieme of the O&L Group of which Pick 'n Pay is a subsidiary, and also on behalf of the Managing Director, Henry Feris and the entire management of Pick 'n Pay, I wish to offer our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased and those who experienced tremendous loss on this day. We wish the injured a speedy recovery," Roux-che Locke, the group manager for external relations at O&L Group said in the statement.
Oshana Regional Commander, Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, could not provide further details or release the names of the deceased until their next of kin are notified. "We gave first aid care to one person who suffered light to moderate injuries before we evacuated her to a hospital," a rescue operator said.
Dec 3, 2012