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://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Newark-Airport-Hangar-Injuries...
4 Hurt When Hangar Collapses at Newark Liberty International Airport: Officials
Sept 09 2015
Four workers were hurt when an old cargo hangar collapsed at Newark Liberty International Airport Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The hangar, which was being prepared for demolition, collapsed at about 2 p.m., authorities said.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Joe Pentangelo said two of the four injured workers were seriously hurt, but they are expected to survive. The other two suffered minor injuries. All four were transported to a nearby hospital.
Nine workers were inside the building at the time and all are accounted for, Pentangelo said.
Chopper 4 footage from the scene showed several emergency crews around the damaged United Airlines hangar. Several people were seen in stretchers, though it appeared as if they are conscious.
There were no aircraft in the hangar when it collapsed. Engineers are inspecting the location.
The building is no longer owned by United Airlines; it was acquired by the Port Authority in 2005 for storage use. Recently, the Port Authority approved the hangar and two others for demolition.
Sep 10, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
Unstable ground in NC and GA
http://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Structure-Col...;
Structure Collapse Injures 3 Workers
Updated: Thu, Sep 10 2015, 04:19 PM
FAIRVIEW, N.C. - A structure collapse in Buncombe County lands three people in the hospital.
It happened at a home on Old Gap Greek Road in Fairview where a residential garage was being built.
The three workers hurt suffered minor injuries when the wooden trusses put in place for the roof collapsed.
Emergency officials on scene tell us all the permits were in order for the project.
The Buncombe County Inspections Division will investigate the incident.
and Georgia
http://wsav.com/2015/09/10/building-frame-collapses-on-berwick-boul...
Building Frame Collapses, Injures Three
Published: September 10, 2015, 2:42 pm
Savannah emergency crews responded to a collapsed structure off of Berwick Boulevard around 1:45pm Thursday.
It happened in a construction site behind the CVS pharmacy near Ogeechee Road.
Officials on the scene say three people were trapped inside the fallen framing and all were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The County Marshal is on the scene to investigate the cause of the collapse. We’ll have more information as soon as it’s released.
and in Cairo, Egypt
http://airworldservice.org/blog/archives/10681
2 killed in building collapse in Egypt
Cairo, Sep 10 – At least two persons, including a child, were killed today when a five-story residential building collapsed in Egypt’s Assiut governorate.
The building collapsed in minutes, killing the wife of its owner and her one-year infant, officials said.
Security forces are currently searching for survivors trapped under the rubble.
The collapse was caused by unauthorised construction of several extra stories on the old building.
Building collapses are common in Egypt due to illegal extensions and failure to adopt construction guidelines.
Last year, 19 people were killed when an eight-story building collapsed in Egypt’s Matariya district.
Sep 10, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://patch.com/connecticut/waterford/waterford-road-collapses-due...
Waterford Road Collapses Due to Flooding
Several roads are impacted by the collapse and flooding.
September 10, 2015
Due to heavy rains, Waterford, MI roadways are flooding and causing trouble for motorists Thursday afternoon.
Sep 11, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/13/us-nigeria-school-collaps...
School building collapses in central Nigeria killing four students
Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:57pm EDT
An Islamic school building collapsed in the town of Bukuru in Nigeria's Plateau state on Sunday afternoon, killing at least four students and injuring 14 others, the state coordinator of emergency services said.
"We are still working under the rubble for more bodies and injured," Abdulsalam Muhammed, the state coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, said.
The two-storey building collapsed while there were about 40 students of various ages inside, teacher Danlami Muhammed said.
"We rushed here to find out if our children are alive ... we only hope Jamila, my daughter and Saleh are not among the dead," father Ahmed Abubakar said, who was among the parents who went to the scene.
One of the parents said the building was poorly constructed by the local community and believed heavy rain had contributed to its collapse.
Sep 13, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/017002/41814/thu-duc-overpass-suffers...
Part of the slip road leading to HCM City's Thu Duc Overpass suddenly collapsed on September 15.
Many drivers said they saw cracks on the road while travelling at around 7am. Then part of the road collapsed down the slope, pulling down 20-metres of railing.
Traffic police and other agencies attended the scene to direct traffic. However, at 11am, another part of the road collapsed so the police had to shut the overpass.
Vu Kien Thiet, director of the Urban Traffic Management Board 2 said Thu Duc Overpass was only opened in 2005 but it would now require repairing which could take up to a week.
Cracks found on the surface
Sep 16, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://leadership.ng/news/462459/another-building-collapses-in-lago...
Another Building Collapses In Lagos Casualties Unknown – LASEMA
Sep 22, 2015 6:50 pm
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it has yet to determine the number of casualties in Tuesday building collapse in Lekki area of the state.
Mr Michael Akindele, the General Manager of the agency, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene of the incident.
NAN reports that the collapsed building was located at 37 Agungi/Ajiran Road, Osapa London, Lekki in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
“As l speak, l cannot ascertain whether there is anybody trapped, dead or alive, until when we conclude the search and rescue mission.
“For now, we are still on rescue mission to ensure that there is no life under the debris.
“Until we get to the zero level before we can make any further pronouncement,’’ he said.
He, however, said that the agency would conduct investigation to determine the quality of materials used to construct the building.
“As at Aug. 11, the three buildings under construction here were marked by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the contractors served appropriately to stop construction.
“This collapse is out of defiance; however, necessary investigations will be done by appropriate agency after which it will act appropriately.
“LASEMA is here on search and rescue mission,’’ he said.
Akindele explained that before officials of the agency arrived at the scene, two people have already been rescue alive.
He said the agency was informed that the construction workers were already out before the collapse but that motorcycle rider sleep there.
He said his officials would do their best to ensure anybody who was trapped in the building was rescued.
A witness at the scene said that four people were still trapped while two persons were rescued before the arrival of emergency officials.
Sep 22, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://wtop.com/dc/2015/09/retaining-wall-collapses-near-3rd-street...
Retaining wall collapses near 3rd Street tunnel project
September 22, 2015 11:01 am
WASHINGTON — Part of a retaining wall at the 3rd Street Tunnel project collapsed Tuesday morning, causing delays northbound. The ramp to Massachusetts Avenue is closed. D.C. Department of Transportation spokesman Terry Owens tells WTOP
WASHINGTON — Part of a retaining wall at the 3rd Street Tunnel project collapsed Tuesday morning, causing delays northbound.
The ramp to Massachusetts Avenue is closed. D.C. Department of Transportation spokesman Terry Owens tells WTOP that part of a retaining wall has collapsed.
The collapse occurred in the area of the long-term 3rd Street Tunnel project.
He says as far as he knows, no one was hurt and no cars were damaged.
Sep 22, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2015-09/22/c_134649205.htm
One dies in building collapse in Vietnam's capital city
2015-09-22 19:51:08
Rescuers work at the site of a building collapse in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Sept. 22, 2015. One person has been reported dead in an old building collapse in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon, local media VNExpress reported. (Xinhua/VNA)
HANOI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- One person has been reported dead in an old building collapse in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon, local media VNExpress reported.
Meanwhile, according to Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA, there were nearly 20 people staying in the two-storey building during the time it collapsed. Some 15 were rescued with five of them suffering serious injuries.
At least two other people were still being trapped, said VNA.
Rescue work is still underway while relevant authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
The building has been used by Vietnam Railway Company since 1955 and has undergone several upgrades.
Vietnam's capital Hanoi has been suffering heavy rain since Monday night.
Sep 23, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/1-Trapped-After-Building-Colla...
1 Dead After Building Collapses in Chicago
Authorities say a person remains trapped after a building partially collapsed on Chicago's Near South Side
Sept 24 2015
A person was killed Thursday afternoon after a building partially collapsed on Chicago's Near South Side.
Just after 12 p.m., the Chicago Fire Department was attempting to stabilize the building at 505 E. Pershing Road in the Bronzeville neighborhood in order to free a person who had been trapped after the structure's roof came crashing down.
A little over an hour later, CFD confirmed one person was found dead in the wreckage. Information has not been released as to what caused the unexpected collapse or the victim's identity.
Video from NBC 5's helicopter showed numerous firefighters, paramedics and an ambulance on the scene among the rubble.
Authorities said the building is extremely unstable.
Sep 24, 2015
Mark
Another building collapses in Lagos, casualties unknown
http://dailypost.ng/2015/09/23/another-building-collapses-in-lagos-...
Mr Michael Akindele, the General Manager of the agency, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene of the incident.
NAN reports that the collapsed building was located at 37 Agungi/Ajiran Road, Osapa London, Lekki in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
“As l speak, l cannot ascertain whether there is anybody trapped, dead or alive, until when we conclude the search and rescue mission.
“For now, we are still on rescue mission to ensure that there is no life under the debris.
“Until we get to the zero level before we can make any further pronouncement,’’ he said.
He, however, said that the agency would conduct investigation to determine the quality of materials used to construct the building.
“As at August 11, the three buildings under construction here were marked by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the contractors served appropriately to stop construction.
“This collapse is out of defiance; however, necessary investigations will be done by appropriate agency after which it will act appropriately.
“LASEMA is here on search and rescue mission,’’ he said.
Akindele explained that before officials of the agency arrived at the scene, two people have already been rescue alive.
He said the agency was informed that the construction workers were already out before the collapse but that motorcycle rider sleep there.
He said his officials would do their best to ensure anybody who was trapped in the building was rescued.
A witness at the scene said that four people were still trapped while two persons were rescued before the arrival of emergency officials.
Sep 26, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wcnc.com/story/weather/severe-weather/2015/09/28/heavy-r...
Heavy rains blamed for parking lot collapse in Boone
BOONE, N.C. -- The continuous rain is being blamed for the partial collapse of a parking lot in Boone.
It happened early Monday morning behind a converted gas station which houses two businesses along Highway 321 and 105.
"There is probably no better place for that wall to have fallen, because it fell right in the safest spot for it to fall," said Max Smith, owner of Red Gremlin Design Studio.
"If it would have been 15 feet right, it would have crushed the other building, 15 feet to the left, it would have crushed the building beside it," he said.
James Maltba, the property's rental manager, says engineers assessed the damage and determined what's left will have to be torn down.
He estimates the parking lot used by a number of businesses has been standing tall for at least 40 years.
"It's been a good stable wall. It's got a lot of structural support," he pointed.
Maltba also runs his directory business from the building, spared by the avalanche of mud and concrete.
He says the building did not sustain any damages, and items were moved from the back of the building in case the remaining wall falls down.
Homeless veteran, Randy Langdon, tells NBC Charlotte he was sleeping behind the building when he heard "popping" noises.
He suspects he heard the sound of the rebar giving way. He considers himself very fortunate he was not hurt.
"Just amazing. God was on my side."
Crews have since brought in hay to lay over the dirt to combat soil erosion and to keep the mud from washing onto the highway.
Sep 29, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wtae.com/news/trench-collapse-reported-in-penn-township-...
Fatal trench collapse reported behind care home in Penn Township, Butler County
PENN TOWNSHIP, Pa. —One person died in a trench collapse Monday afternoon in Penn Township, Butler County.
Crews are working to remove the body of a 21-year-old construction worker from a trench which collapsed while crews were doing work on a sewer.
The 21-year-old victim worked for Rooter Man who was contracted by Shelbourne Personal Care home on Dinnerbell Road to work on a sewer line behind the building
Technical rescue teams from Butler and Mercer counties assisted in the rescue.
According to the Middlesex police chief, the trench is just over 11 feet deep and crews had to go bucket-by-bucket to remove dirt to get to the body.
The cause of the accident is not yet known, but a member of the technical rescue crew told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 the ditch was not shored.
The victim's name has not yet been released.
OSHA is investigating the accident.
Sep 29, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://westchester.news12.com/news/condominiums-suffer-partial-buil...
Condominiums suffer partial building collapse
Updated September 30, 2015 5:44 PM
A brick facade on one of the buildings at Mountain View Condominiums caused damage to some gas and electric meters. (5:39 PM)
VALLEY COTTAGE - A partial building collapse in Valley Cottage startled condo residents last night.
Police say a brick facade on one of the buildings at Mountain View Condominiums in Valley Cottage fell just after 9 p.m. last night. "We were sitting in the living room and all of a sudden we heard this terrible crash and we looked out and saw all of these blocks out on the lawn," says Fran Lamparelli.
They say the falling bricks caused damage to some gas and electric meters. As a result of the damage, 16 units were without gas for the evening, and eight units were without both gas and electric. Orange and Rockland responded to the scene to repair gas line and electrical boxes. Eight of the units were still without gas or electricity today.
The complex managers says they hope to have all service restored by tomorrow.
No one was displaced or hurt.
http://www.inforum.com/news/3850636-crews-respond-workers-trapped-c...
Crews respond to workers trapped in collapsed trench in West Fargo
The workers, from All Finish Concrete of Moorhead, were setting up forms to pour the footings for the new home of a business called EZ Open Garage Door, according to West Fargo officials.
The trench was more like a large pit 15 feet deep and about 34 feet wide at its narrowest, dug on the south side of a half-finished building. The worker with the most-serious injury had been in the pit near a 2-foot-by-10-foot panel in a concrete form. When the north wall of the trench sloughed off, it caused the panel to turn on its side and apparently break his shin and calf bones.
And another:
http://www.news9.com/story/30156081/residents-link-age-earthquakes-...
Residents Link Age, Earthquakes To Building Collapse
Posted: Sep 30, 2015 5:57 PM EST Updated: Sep 30, 2015 5:57 PM EST
Officials and residents in Cushing are still looking for answers after a downtown building suddenly collapsed Tuesday night.
The building, on the corner of Noble Avenue and Broadway Street, was formerly home to a few apartments and a variety store named “Boy Howdy.” Residents said the building had been empty and neglected for several years.
“It's been kind of a landmark over the years. You hate to lose any buildings, any structures in your downtown area,” Cushing Emergency Management Services director Bob Noltensmeyer said.
The building suffered major damage to the southeastern corner. The roof collapsed inward forcing the eastern wall to crumble into the street. Crews later came to knock down what was left of the corner for public safety.
City officials said Wednesday it was too early to tell what caused the roof to collapse. But they do say it was an old building that needed repairs. Noltensmeyer estimated it was built during the 1920s. Others, however, were not so sure that's really all there is too it
“We've had lots of earthquakes and it is a real old building,” Mary Ellis said.
Ellis, who lives in Cushing, says she was a frequent customer at Boy Howdy and was sad to see the building go.
So far in September, 27 earthquakes above a 2.5 magnitude have been reported in Cushing, according to the United States Geological Survey. The largest quake topped out at 4.1. That earthquake was closely followed by the closing of oil waste water wells just outside town. Some residents have also reported cracks in other older buildings around town.
Noltensmeyer said the new owner is from Tulsa and has a decision ahead of him on whether he will keep the building, sell the brick or tear down the structure all together.
And another:
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2015/09/brooklyn-building-collapse-...
Partial Building Collapse at Brookland Capital Site on Washington in Prospect Heights
09/30/15 3:13pm
The roof of an under-construction building at 658 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights collapsed around 9 a.m. this morning. No injuries have been reported.
DOB records confirm the collapse and building evacuation at the already long-vacant structure. The fire department called for the DOB to inspect the site “due to roof collapse of building under permitted alteration.” Above, the site in 2014.
The old brick building at the corner of Washington and Bergen is one of many properties owned by prolific Brooklyn developer Brookland Capital. The developer also owns, and is building on, the adjacent lots at 731, 733, 735 and 737 Bergen Street.
Brookland Capital purchased 658 Washington from the Church of God Victory in September of 2013 for $1,600,000, according to data accessed via Reonomy. The developer focuses on constructing small and medium-sized condo buildings. It has more than 40 projects under way in Brooklyn.
Oct 1, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wsmv.com/story/30173528/building-collapse-reported-in-la...
Building collapses on Lawrenceburg Public Square
Posted: Oct 02, 2015 2:37 PM EST Updated: Oct 02, 2015 5:58 PM EST
Emergency crews responded to a building collapse on Lawrenceburg Public Square Friday afternoon.
One person was trapped inside, but workers were able to rescue him.
A witness told Channel 4 the collapse happened just after 1 p.m. Friday. He said the building was under renovation.
“Heard this crashing sound, sounded like a train wreck,” said Nathan Hennessy, a witness. “I actually had to run back because I was afraid it would fall back on me. All I heard was the sound of glass breaking and car alarms.
“Yeah, it was terrible,” Hennessy added.
Three people were working inside the building when one of them said he heard a loud “pop.” Two of the workers were able to get out of the building, but one was trapped inside.
Jason Perry, the man who was trapped inside, told Channel 4 that the tornado drills he learned in schools helped save his life.
The building collapse crushed some empty cars in a nearby parking lot. Pieces of rubble also fell on a man driving by. He was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
There’s no word on what caused the collapse.
Oct 3, 2015
M. Difato
Oct 3,2015 Seven people were killed and two others wounded late Saturday when four floors of a residential building collapsed in Cairo's working class Shubra district, MENA reported. Head of civil protection, Gamal Halawa, said that the property owner was making renovations to the building that caused the collapse. Collaspe of Residential building kills 7 and injures 2 in Cairo’s Shubra Earlier in September, four people died in a similar incident when a dilapidated building collapsed in the governorate of Assiut, south of Cairo. It is not uncommon for buildings to collapse in Egypt, often due to their age, illegal additions, and failure to comply with building regulations.
Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/152023/Egypt/Collapse-of...
Oct 4, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wcti12.com/news/high-waters-cause-parts-of-hwy-12-to-col...
High waters cause parts of Hwy. 12 to collapse into ocean
KITTY HAWK, N.C. -
The high waters caused parts of Highway 12 (at the Outer Banks) to fall into the ocean. The rising flood waters caused significant damage in Kitty Hawk. There's no time frame as to when the highway will be fixed and re-opened.
Highway 12, locally known as Beach Road, is the main road for access to the beachfront on the Outer Banks. Over the last few days, Eastern North Carolina has seen high tides and severe rainfall which has caused damage to the area
After the high levels of water knocked out the dunes, the road collapsed because the water eroded the sand underneath.
Monte Adams has owned his home in Kitty Hawk for the last 24 years. He says the beachfront area is completely changed.
“See those waves, they used to be beach at least 100 to 75 yards and in the last two to three years it’s kind of turned into this," Adams said..........
Oct 7, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.abc15.com/news/national/4-feared-trapped-after-collapse-...
6 rescued after scaffolding collapses in Houston
Oct 17, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/10/16/national/six-students-hu...
Six students hurt in roof collapse of Peshawar school
October 16, 2015 BY Staff Report
At least five students were seriously wounded when the schools roof collapsed here on Friday.
Rescue sources said that dilapidated roof of a school building located at Sarband Road of Peshawar suddenly came down when the students were busy in academic activities.
Three pupils were buried under the rubble and are critically injured. Three others were also injured by the falling debris.
The rescue personnel pulled out the injured students and shifted them to hospital for treatment.
Oct 19, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://expressng.com/2015/10/lagos-several-residents-trapped-in-bui...
Lagos: Several Residents Trapped In Building Collapse (photos)
By expressng Reporters on October 21, 2015A three storey building collapsed on Wednesday morning on Swamp Street,Lagos Island leaving several residents trapped under the rubble
Reports have it seven occupants have been rescued and rushed to Sura Health Centre on the Island for treatment while emergency agents continue their efforts to evacuate those that are still trapped in the rubble .
According to an eye witness report, several people are trapped inside the collapsed building.
The building, which is located on Odun Ifa street by No. 100, Adeniji Adele street, collapsed this morning.
An eyewitness, Ajayi Timi, said that “we heard the sound of the collapsed building and I had to rush out as a licenced Red Cross officer.
“We had to mobilise so many rescue officials to come and assist. The LASEMA, State Red Cross, Area Commander of the Police and Fire Brigade, were all contacted”, he said.
He complained of Nigeria’s slow response to emergencies.
Oct 22, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.centralkynews.com/jessaminejournal/news/local/three-inju...
Three injured in structure collapse along East Brannon Road
Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 4:17 pm
Photo by Ben Kleppinger/bkleppinger@jessaminejournal.com
Workers stood near the scene of a collapsed structure along East Brannon Road Wednesday afternoon.
Three workers were injured in a partial building collapse at a construction site on East Brannon Road Wednesday afternoon.
Nicholasville Fire Chief Mark Case said they were working on a mail kiosk building on the site, which is the home of a new apartment complex, when the accident happened.
When the structure collapsed, one person became trapped and had to be extricated by the Nicholasville Fire Department. Two more were injured, Case said.
Case said responders were told that "wind caught it and blew the structure down."
Oct 22, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dispatchtribunal.com/long-island-sea-arch-collapses-over...
Long Island sea arch reduced to rubble after it collapsed overnight
October 21, 2015
One of the most beautiful natural landmarks of Long Island, the sea arch in Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, often referred to as the “The Eye” has been reduced to rubble after it collapsed overnight on Monday.
Located on the private island in the tiny archipelago of islands in the Minas Basin between Economy and Parrsboro, the well known and one of the most visited naturally formed arch was destroyed for reasons not known completely. The natural arch carved out in basalt and sandstone was a favourite of brave hikers during low tides, and kayakers during high tides.
People in the area have revealed that the collapse was completely unexpected for there was no hint of any storms or bad weather or even any geological activity that could have caused it. According to local residents, the combination of higher than normal tides and years of erosion may have played a role in the collapse of ‘the Eye’.
“I just looked out this morning and it’s collapsed,” said Harold Nesbitt, a local resident whose home looks out over the basin and Long Island, reports GlobalNews.ca. “I looked at it yesterday and it was there, today, it’s not,” he said from his home in Five Islands.
Nesbitt said the sunset was beautiful last night and he thought about taking a picture, but didn’t, reports CBC.ca. “I regret that because I may have had one of the last pictures of Long Island with the tunnel through it,” he said.
The entire structure hasn’t been lost as there is still land that is visible along with rock between the two pillar structures; however, Tim Fedak, director of the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro, is of the opinion that the two pillars will eventually be separated by the tides and winds.
“The mound will erode over the winter,” said Fedak, arriving at Lower Five Islands to have a look through binoculars at the huge pile of rock and dirt that had fallen from the archway but will disintegrate with the tides over time, reports The Chronicle Herald.
Oct 22, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/five-injured-in-...
Five injured in building collapse in Tiruchi
At least five persons were injured when a four-storeyed building situated near the Nathervali Dargah on the Madurai road here collapsed on Thursday night.
Renovation works were under way on the ground floor of the building situated in a congested and narrow by-lane when the building collapsed. A borewell was also being reportedly sunk in the building.
Eye witness accounts said the building came down with a huge sound at around 8 p.m. Tenants in the houses had been asked to temporarily move out of the building in view of the works, which fortunately averted loss of lives.
The huge sound coupled with smoke shocked residents in the locality. Residents in the neighbourhood said the building was over 40 years old, atop which three floors were constructed a couple of years ago and rented out.
A portion of the debris fell over the opposite house where a woman and 12-year-old girl were injured. An old man who was trapped inside the building that had caved in was rescued.
Collector K.S. Palanisamy who inspected the spot accompanied by Corporation Commissioner M. Vijayalakshmi and Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur, told reporters that five persons had sustained injuries in the collapse. R.Manoharan, Government Chief Whip, also inspected the accident site.
Police sources said three of the injured were rushed to a private hospital and two others to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. Rafiya (18), Hasina (29), Mohideen and Anwar Sharif (67) were among the injured. The identity of another injured person was not known immediately.
Mr. Palanisamy said the cause of the collapse and whether permission had been obtained for the construction of multiple floors over the old building were being investigated by the police and the Corporation authorities.
Fire fighters continued their search operation till late in the night to ascertain if any one had been trapped inside.
Oct 23, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/10/23/dallas-police-and-fire-respond-t...
No One Hurt In Partial Garage Collapse On Turtle Creek
October 23, 2015 4:00 PMAnd though garage cameras didn’t indicate anyone was inside the cars within the collapse zone, property management were still in the process of making sure all of its residents were accounted for into the night.
“It sounded like a plane crash,” one resident told CBS11 News
.
A large parking garage with multiple levels collapsed, leaving a massive hole. According to resident Nick Parrillo, a pile of concrete rubble was left on a deck near where the collapse happened.
“I’m sure several cars fell through the hole,” said Parrillo. “We had some leaks coming in from the pool,” he added about a possible cause for the collapse.
Building and structural engineers determined the building is not safe for anyone to go inside, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans.
Dallas Fire Rescue and Task Force engineers will stay on site with equipment
to assist in monitoring the integrity of the structure while management, and their engineers make the final determination on what to do with it going forward.
Oct 24, 2015
KM
http://www.wsj.com/articles/building-collapses-in-midtown-manhattan...
One Dead After Building Collapse in Midtown Manhattan
Another worker was hospitalized after being trapped under rubble
The collapse occurred about 10:30 a.m. during demolition-related work at a building on West 38th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
The Department of Buildings issued stop-work orders at both 25 W. 38th St. and 27 W. 38th St. after the collapse and said it would investigate.
Officials didn’t release the name of the man who was killed or the injured employee. The worker died after being struck on the head by a wooden beam, said FDNY Rescue Battalion Chief Joe Downey.
Battalion Chief Downey and other officials described a harrowing rescue of the injured man, who was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center in serious but stable condition. He was trapped under rubble for three hours but was conscious and communicating with authorities.
The injured man was on the first floor of the building, and rescuers first reinforced the basement to keep it from collapsing.
First responders were able to free the man’s head and torso from the debris, but his legs remained pinned. FDNY Capt. Dominic Bertucci said he and his colleagues used various tools, including air bags, to carefully remove the rest of the rubble.
“We were trying to bring it up just an inch or two at a time, just enough so we can get him out,” Capt. Bertucci said.
When the man was finally rescued, said New York Police Department Sgt. Michael Edwards, “it was a feeling of elation.”
Oct 31, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/10/31/17-dead-23-injure...
17 dead, 23 injured in building collapse in central China
BEIJING, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Some 17 construction workers are dead and nearly two dozen were injured when a two-story building collapsed in central China's Henan province.
Several people thought to be responsible in the collapse were taken into police custody after the 1990s-era building collapsed on Friday afternoon. Construction workers were attempting to lift the building foundation.
The search and rescue operation ended early Saturday. One of the survivors saidmany of the workers had little or no training to work on the site. They had been using a jack to raise the first floor but the gave way leading to the collapse.
The official cause is under investigation.
Oct 31, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/south-asia/pakistan-25-killed-in-f...
Pakistan: 25 killed in factory building collapse
6th Nov 2015
KARACHI, (AA, The News): Rescuers on Thursday pulled out over 100 laborers from under the rubble of a factory building that collapsed Wednesday, killing at least 25 people and injuring more than 50, officials said.
Victims had been trapped for at least 20 hours as huge mounds of debris and darkness slowed down the rescue operation.
So far, 19 bodies were recovered, while four others were detected under the debris of the four-storey polythene bag factory located approximately 30 kilometers from Lahore, the country’s cultural hub, Mohammad Usman, a senior city government official said.
It was unclear how many people were in the building when it collapsed or how many — dead or alive — may still be trapped. Officials have put the total number of those involved at around 150-200, with 108 so far pulled out alive.
Several survivors trapped in the rubble of the factory pleaded for help with rescue services on their mobile phones.
“Several trapped survivors have contacted us earlier from under the rubble. We are unable to contact them now because their mobile phone batteries may have died,” Brigadier (retd) Dr Arshad Zia, the director-general of the Rescue 1122 force, told Geo News.
Zia said that rescue workers were busy trying to clear the first floor of the building and that the search and rescue operation may continue for another day.
Having 702 industrial land plots spread over 1,179 acres, the Sundar Industrial Estate actually comprises of 1,750 acres of land located 45 kilometres from the centre of Lahore on the Sundar-Raiwind Road.
Pakistan has a poor safety record in the construction and maintenance of buildings.
At least 24 people died last year when a mosque collapsed in the same city, while more than 200 people lost their lives, mostly due to collapsed roofs, following torrential rain and flooding in 2014.
In 2012, at least 255 workers were killed when a fire tore through a clothing factory in Karachi, one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Pakistani history.
A judicial probe into the blaze was damning, pointing to a lack of emergency exits, poor safety training of workers, the packing in of machinery and the failure of government inspectors to spot any of these faults.
He said that soldiers and rescuers were carefully cutting through steel and using cranes to lift the debris of the building to rescue the survivors.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the roof collapse. However, there have been speculations that the incident was indirectly caused by last week’s 7.5-magnitude earthquake that hit both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan has a long history of industrial disasters, many of them due to safety violations.
Nov 6, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/old-commercial-build...
Old building collapses
A major portion of a 50-year-old two-storied commercial building on a lane between Oppanakkara Street and Big Bazaar Street in the city collapsed during the early hours of Monday.
The wall of a nearby commercial complex was also damaged in the impact.
According to police sources, none was killed or injured.
Police said that many persons would have got killed if the building had collapsed a couple of hours, when the business would have resumed for the day.
The building owner Habib Rahman constructed the first floor with metal sheet roofing only less than a year ago. The ground floor had a fancy store and the first floor was used as a store-room for readymade garments and shoes.
According to the police, preliminary inquiry revealed the old building could have collapsed as it could not bear the weight on the first floor. The portion damaged was around 2,000 sq.ft. While value of goods damaged was yet to be ascertained.
Entry of vehicles on the one-way from Big Bazaar Street to Oppanakara Street was blocked till Monday evening until the debris was removed. Corporation workers, an earth mover and trucks were deployed for clearing the debris.
The traders mobilised manpower to retrieve bundles of dresses which were not damaged in the incident.
Mayor P. Rajkumar visited the place and supervised the works. Ukkadam Police and Corporation officials conducted inquiries on the incident.
Meanwhile, an official of Coimbatore Corporation said that it would issue notice to the building owner to demolish the structure and construct it only after getting the required approvals.
It was an old building that did not have any approval and a temporary shed was put up on the first floor
Nov 17, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/14038873.UPDATE__Homes_evacu...
Homes evacuated after building collapse in Wilkinson Street, Leigh
A BMW car was flattened and homes were evacuated after part of a block of flats collapsed in Leigh during a night of devastating storms.
No-one was hurt when part of the Alexandra Court building in Wilkinson Street fell on top of the car, just after 7.45pm on Tuesday.
Firefighters from Atherton Fire Station and police were called to the two-storey block of four flats and 10 residents were evacuated from the building.
Charlie Schofield, who lives nearby in Twist Lane, made refreshments for the fire and police and offered her home to those who needed it.
She said: “My husband and I were watching the England versus France football game and we heard a horrific bang.
"With everything that is going on in the news, I assumed the worst. My husband Stuart Schofield ran to the window and informed me of rubble in the road and a flattened BMW. That is when neighbours started gathering outside.
"A resident of the apartment said he had heard rocks tumble and saw the bricks leaning days ago but didn’t report it. It could have been a lot worse but luckily everyone is ok and safe.”
Watch manager Andy Leyland from Atherton Fire Station said the road was closed following the collapse.
Mr Leyland said: “The damage was definitely due to the strong winds and rain. The BMW was flattened from parts of the front of the building falling on it. We know that it belonged to another resident in the street, although he did not live in the block of flats.
“We had to cordon off the road because even when we arrived, the front of the building was still falling on to the street.”
Continues.......
Nov 18, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.tvafricaonline.com/?p=1348&cpage=30
2 Buildings Collapse In Kumasi
Jun 22, 2015General News320
Two five-storey buildings under construction at Apatrapa and Kropo, suburbs of Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, collapsed at the weekend.No casualty was reported in both incidents, but there were speculations that some people might have been trapped at Apatrapa.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Osabarima, told DAILY GUIDE, “There was a huge noise and suddenly the building collapsed. Everyone started running, thinking it was an earthquake. There was dust everywhere. We then realised what had happened.”
According to him, nobody had been declared missing after the tragic incident, which happened Sunday morning.
Osabarima said the collapsed building was near the King Jesus Anointing Ministry, popularly known as ‘Dwankobia Prayer Camp,’ as well as other residential and commercial properties at Tanoso-Abuakwa.
At Kropo, the five-storey building collapsed around 1:45 am on Saturday while most residents were fast asleep.
“I was fast asleep when I heard a huge sound like an earthquake which shook my building. When I rushed out with other co-tenants, we discovered a storey building under construction had collapsed,” eyewitness Daniel Oppong-Sarpong told DAILY GUIDE.
He maintained that the building was behind the St. George’s International School, which was adjacent to his home at New Suame.
‘It was supposed to be at least six floors high when completed,’ Mr. Oppong-Sarpong said, and reported no casualty or entrapped persons.
Nov 20, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://sakshipost.com/index.php/news/state/68177-one-student-dies,-...
One student dies, 10 injured in Chittoor school building collapse
Wednesday, 25 November 2015 16:15.
Chitoor: One student died and 10 others sustained serious injuries when a private school building at Gurramkonda village in Chittoor district collapsed while the students were having mid-day-meals on Wednesday.
A girl student 'Harsha' died on the spot and the injured pupils were rushed to the nearest hospital in Madanapalle by private vehicles.
The accident took place when the ceiling of the private primary school building collapsed.
The collapsed school building, constructed nearly hundred years ago, was shaky due to the recent downpours. It’s alleged that negligence on the part of Education Department could have caused the accident.
Sub inspector of police who is investigating the accident proposed stringent punishment for the school authorities who are at large.
Nov 25, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/silos-collapse-like-dominoes...
Silos collapse 'like dominoes' in Swellendam
2015-12-01 13:45Tammy Petersen, News24
One of the collapsed silos. (Photo from Western Cape Truckers, Facebook)
Cape Town - Fourteen silos holding about 11 500 tons of canola seeds collapsed at the Sentraal-Suid Koöperasie agricultural co-operative in Swellendam on Tuesday morning, the company has confirmed.
CEO Ernst Pelser confirmed to News24 the steel structures had been filled to the brim when it started collapsing “like dominoes” at about 08:30.
The seeds were being stored for the adjacent B-well Canola oil factory.
Dec 1, 2015
Khan
Land subsidence strikes rural area in south China
2015. 12. 6.
173 residents were transferred to safety after land subsidence occurred in Mashan Country, Guangxi Province, in south China on Friday, causing severe damage to roads and buildings.
Local police forces cordoned off roads where large cracks had appeared on the ground and restricted traffic on rural routes. Buildings in many villages suffered significant structural damage following the land subsidence, the cause of which remains unknown.
"At about 7:00, the wall made some noise. I woke up and realized the danger. Some people yelled that the land had subsided and asked the villagers to come out. So I came out of my house for safety," said Shi Lizhao, a local villager.
One village saw 82 out of its 93 buildings suffer various degrees of damage. Some houses made of mud and clay were completely destroyed. Fortunately, these collapsed buildings were unoccupied and thanks to a quick evacuation, all 173 villagers were transferred safely and without injury.
The local government set up a temporary shelter in a primary school for villagers who had no other place to stay. The civil department also sent relief supplies of clothes and food to meet basic needs.
However, after the weekend, villagers will have to find alternative shelter as students return to school. The government will provide them with subsidies.
It is estimated that the geologic structure of the area needs at least three months to stabilize. Therefore, reconstruction work will not begin until full scientific observations and data analysis are complete.
More on: http://newscontent.cctv.com/NewJsp/news.jsp?fileId=330447 ;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELsILv_0tDA ;
Dec 7, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.uncutindia.com/three-killed-as-slab-of-under-constructio...
Three killed as slab of under construction building collapses in Warangal
Dec 10, 2015
Three persons were killed and 19 others suffered injuries after a building collapsed at a construction site of a private engineering college at Annasagar village in Warangal district on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred when around 30 persons were working at the site. Two workers died on the spot while another one died when he was being shifted to a private hospital, an official attached with the local Police said. Two of the workers killed in the incident were identified as Prasad and Rajesh.
Warangal city police commissioner G Sudheer Babu rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operation.
A case has been lodged in this regard and investigations are underway.
Dec 10, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesoracle.com/2015/12/hilton-hotel-driveway-roof-collapses...
Hilton hotel driveway roof collapses
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call at about 2:55 pm regarding people being injured at Hilton Singapore.
Mr Peter Webster, Hilton regional general manager, said a doorman heard a sound at around 2.50pm.
A black vehicle bearing a Malaysian licence plate took most of the impact from the fall. It then dispatched one ambulance and a fire engine to the hotel.
"They had scratches, but looked fine and were sent to the hospital as a precaution", said Mr Webster. During the inspection, only guests were allowed through the entrance, according to a hotel representative.
In a statement, SCDF said a total of four people were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital as a result of the incident.
They were departing, and he was checking a location on Google maps when the ceiling collapsed. However, two people - one a passerby who was taking a shortcut via the hotel and another, a hotel worker - were hit by the falling parts.
Hilton will cover the damage to both vehicles, he said.
"We have the building checked on a regular basis", said Mr Webster.
Reports are coming in from social media that the roof of the Hilton Hotel along Orchard Road collapsed this afternoon following heavy rain.
Inspectors from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) were investigating at the scene.
The hotel is to fix the collapsed ceiling and recommend "rectification measures", the statement said.
At around 5.30pm, contractors arrived to free the vehicles from the debris. By about 6pm, both cars had left the driveway.
The roof collapse at the Hilton is the latest in a string of incidents on Orchard Road this month.
On Saturday (Dec 12), a power outage at the Orchard Central shopping mall forced some shops to close earlyDec 13, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Wind-causes-barn-collapse-in-Hut...
Wind causes barn collapse in Hutchinson; several ponies injured
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KAKE) — Strong winds caused a barn to collapse in Hutchinson, injuries several ponies in the process.
Emergency crews were called around 2:30 p.m. Sunday to a building collapse in the 1600 block of North Harding on Hutchinson’s north side. When they arrived, they found a 20-by-15-foot barn had blown about 15 feet off its foundation, Battalion Chief Jeremy Unruh said.
Crews used the Jaws of Life to lift the structure off of three ponies. A fourth had freed itself, Unruh said.
The injured ponies were taken to a local veterinarian who had the animals up and walking. Their injuries are not considered serious.
The Hutchinson Fire Department thanked neighbors for their assistance.
Dec 14, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://fox17.com/news/local/high-winds-cause-wall-to-collapse-in-na...
High Winds Cause Wall to Collapse in Nashville
Monday, December 14th 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The outside brick wall of a building collapsed in Nashville.
The collapse occurred at around 1 a.m. on 2nd Avenue South and was captured on surveillance video. No injuries are reported.
At least three parked vehicles received damage. Bricks were scattered all over a parking lot.
There was a wind advisory overnight. FOX 17 Meteorologist Katy Morgan says a wind gust of 52 MPH was reported at the Nashville International Airport.
Dec 15, 2015
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/local-news/67289371-story
Washed-Out Road Strands Neighborhood in Kings Mountain
Neighbors using bridge to walk across, but can't get cars out
Posted:Dec 31 2015 07:31PM EST
Updated:Dec 31 2015 09:41PM EST
A neighborhood in Kings Mountain is now cut off after flooding caused a hole in the road Wednesday. Emergency officials say water in Beason Creek got so high it washed out a culvert pipe that runs underneath Brookforest Drive, causing the road to collapse, which left eight families
stranded.
Now that the water has receded, there are two bridges neighbors can walk across, but they can't get their cars
out of the community.
Some of the neighbors were trapped inside their homes overnight Wednesday because the waters were so high. And some of the residents had already gone out, and then they couldn’t get back in to their homes and their families.
Washed-Out Road Strands Neighborhood in Kings Mountain
Brian Edmonson said, “My wife
was here. She was here by herself and for her, she felt stranded, and we were at the end of the driveway, couldn’t get to her.”
Colby Brown was affected by the flooding. He explained the problems the washed-out road is still causing. Brown said, “Basic grocery runs, getting back to work. If emergency services need to get in here, they can’t get in here now.”
Neighbors are already cleaning up the mess, and they expect to start repairs on Monday. It's a private drive, and that means the people living on the road are responsible for fixing it.
Jan 1, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.hngn.com/articles/166481/20160105/scottish-castle-floodi...
Jan 05, 2016 10:35 AM EST
A 16th century Scottish castle is on the verge of collapse after chunks of soil were swept away by floods caused by heavy rains, leaving the building just a few feet away from from the water's edge.
On Sunday, the caslte's owner, 76-year-old Baron John Gordon, was forced to evacuate the A-listed four-story building after the River Dee swept away a large portion of the land behind the property, leaving it at risk of collapsing into the now-swollen river, according to the BBC.
"It moved a 60-foot lump of ground and took a lot of big mature trees," said neighbor Gordon Fraser.
After evacuating, the baron was forced to take refuge in Fraser's home before moving on to another house on the 11,700-acre estate, according to the Daily Record.
"He left the castle when the river was at its height," Fraser said.
The baron, too upset about the ordeal, declined to talk to local news crews.
"John is at his wits' end. It's not only a home. It's the heritage, the history. Nothing can be done while the river is in spate like it is," said another neighbor, according to the Australian Broadcasting Company.
Abergeldie Castle is located in Aberdeenshire and is an historic landmark. It was built by Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar around 1566. It's believed to be haunted by a French serving woman named "French Kate" who was imprisoned in the cellars beneath the castle before she was burned alive after she was accused of being a witch.
In the meantime, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued more than 30 flood warnings on Monday in Tayside, Angus, Dundee and Aberdeenshire, as well as four flood alerts, as Scotland continues to clean up after Storm Frank ravaged the country last Wednesday.
Jan 6, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2016/0...
Worker killed in Altoona trench collapse
1:38 p.m. CST January 6, 2016
(Photo: MacKenzie Elmer/The Register)
Officials say a man has died after a trench collapsed on him at an Altoona construction site Wednesday morning, but rescue crews are having trouble retrieving his body.
Sgt. Jason Ferguson of Altoona police said they were called to the site, which is just north of the intersection of 5th Avenue Northwest and Adventureland Drive, at 8:15 a.m. A man, working for a private contracting company, and a few other workers were laying utility infrastructure for the residential development when walls of a trench collapsed.
The hole is likely more than 12 feet deep, Ferguson said, and slick with thick mud. Des Moines firefighters' technical rescue crew worked for hours constructing a make-shift box from plywood and hydraulic jacks, but the walls continued to re-collapse during their recovery effort.
By 1 p.m., authorities called for an industrial trench box, a tool used in construction to protect workers from cave-ins, which was expected to arrive within the hour, Ferguson said.
Ferguson added that the workers didn’t seem to be using any kind of protection during their morning work. A trench box was at the site, but not in use.
“That’s why they make the trench boxes like that, so this type of thing doesn’t happen,” Ferguson said.
Excavation standards require that some sort of protective measure be in place, said Nissen Jens, administrator of Iowa’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
The agency did send an inspector to the scene, Jens confirmed.
“Our objective …is to determine if the employer was in compliance with the law,” Jens said. “If there are violations, then we issue citations to an employer.”
OSHA does have the authority to take cases of dangerous work environments to the local county attorney’s office, where prosecutors could decide whether to pursue criminal charges. But Jens couldn’t say whether that was under consideration for the Altoona incident or comment further about their investigation.
At about 9:35 a.m., the Des Moines fire department's tactical team were still in rescue mode, but soon after, officials changed the status to a recovery effort.
The southwestern-bound lanes on Adventureland Drive are currently closed to traffic between 5th Avenue and just west of 1st Avenue.
Linden Oaks One LLC out of Ohio purchased the 20-acre plot of land from Grinnell State Bank in October for $1.75 million, according to Polk County Assessor records. It's still unclear which construction company was working at the site when the trench collapsed.
Redwood Living out of Ohio is building a 107-unit apartment complex called Linden Oaks. The market-rate apartments were designed to look like one-story duplexes and aimed at people 55 and older, said Jeff Mark, Altoona city administrator. Initial site work being done was sanitary and storm sewer construction, he said.
Jan 6, 2016
SongStar101
Just from water? This is huge!
Giant earth crack opens up along Route III in Paraguay
http://strangesounds.org/2015/12/giant-earth-crack-opens-up-along-r...
About 6 km of road have been swallowed by a giant crack along Route III between the districts of Yby Yaú and Azotey in Paraguay.
This giant fissure in the ground is the result of torrential rains and the overflowing of creek Guireño on December 10, 2015. Apocalyptic.
Jan 8, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14192983.Riverside_wall_collapses_un...
Riverside wall collapses under homes on River Arun
A section of the tidal defence wall in Arundel falls into the sea Picture: William Pocock
Joel Adams, Reporter / 05:13 Saturday 9 January 2016 / News
HOMES were evacuated after a section of riverside wall collapsed yesterday morning.
Fire crews, council officers and environment agency staff joined other relief staff in Arundel where a 30 foot section of a privately-owned flood wall fell into the river.
The dangerous structural collapse follows days of heavy rains and flooding across the county.
A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue told The Argus that boat teams from the service had been tending to the incident since the early hours of Friday morning.
She added that numerous agencies were working together to respond to the event, including the British Red Cross who were helping to look after householders who were taken from their River Road homes.
The Arun, which is tidal for much of its length, has a long history of flooding and significant defences against flooding and tidal swells mark much of its banks.
Its early name, “Tristantonis”, was recorded in geographical records dating to second-century Egypt.
The word means ‘the trespasser’ and is considered by academics to refer to the tendency of the waterway to meander across its route and flood land near the river.
Yesterday’s wall collapse worried Environment Agency staff who discovered bank erosion beneath the section of crumbling stonework, and worked by floodlight into the darkness to try to confirm the scale of the threat to homes and businesses after the three houses were evacuated.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency and partners are busy assessing the damage to a privately owned flood wall that has collapsed in River Road, Arundel yesterday.
“Our specialist staff are on site, alongside Arun District Council officers, to inspect the defence and assist with any flood protection measures after a section of wall collapsed.The agency warned homeowners across the county to remain vigilant as further heavy rain is expected this weekend and tide levels are as much as a metre higher than in December.
To check your flood risk go to gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding, and to find practical advice residents are advised to call Floodline on 0345 9881188.
Riverside wall collapses under homes on River Arun
hideous extra wall built on top of the old original wall ..expecting sympathy . who thought about putting in the wall on the cheap , i have been down to see it and yes security is of concern but this and the other three properties have built up 4 foot walls that look totally out of keeping along this beautiful stretch of river
Jan 10, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.reflector.com/news/part-third-street-collapses-3107723
Part of Third Street collapses
The Daily Reflector
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Part of Third Street in Greenville collapsed on New Year’s Eve with the failure of a section of the Town Creek Culvert drainage system.
Third Street between Summit and Reade streets partially collapsed on the north side, including a portion of the sidewalk. Detours have been set up and the area is blocked off as a construction site as city officials work with engineers to determine how to move forward.
A gaping hole could be seen where the sidewalk once was, with a view beneath the pavement of the road. The collapse resulted in the double catch basins in the curb of the street to be pulled away and the road currently is undercut, making the asphalt unstable.
Jan 10, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/20-workers-injured-i...
20 workers injured in slab collapse
TNN | Jan 16, 2016, 03.20 AM IST
Nagpur: A major tragedy was averted in Mouda when 20 construction site labourers were injured in a slab collapse but there was no casualties due to alert rescuers ensuring that the trapped victims were timely rushed to rural hospital after the mishap on Friday. Local police and fire brigade too learnt to have toiled to help the victims trapped under debris. It's learnt the incident took place at the construction site of Dr Anil Borkar where a slab was supposed to be erected. The slab caved in during construction leading to the mishap. The workers, engaged in the work, were trapped under the debris. The other labourers raised an alarm attracting attention of the local residents too who joined hands in the rescue act. Cops from Mouda police station too were informed. The matter is now under investigation.
Jan 16, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/local/three-storey-buildi...
Three-storey building collapsed on to main road
10:34Sunday 17 January 2016
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/mill-collapses-o...
A building collapsed on to a main road in Dewsbury last night (Saturday).
Staff from Dewsbury Fire Station were called to the Stanbury Buildings opposite the Lidl store in Bradford Road at around 10.30pm.
The road was closed off in both directions because scaffolding and part of the building had spilled into the lanes. It is now understood to have been re-opened.
Firefighter James Hopkins said: “When we arrived the front of the building had fallen on to Bradford Road.
“There was a lot of unsafe scaffolding [in the road].”
It is not known what caused the three-storey building to collapse but Mr Hopkins said it appeared to have been part-way through renovation.
He added that the roof had collapsed and the front of the structure had then spilled out.
The building was one of 11 which the Dewsbury Regeneration Board earmarked for major improvements in 2011.
Jan 17, 2016
Yvonne Lawson
Lucky escape for residents as Rome building collapses
The top three floors of a building in Rome's Flaminio area collapsed overnight. Photo courtesy of Roma Today
Residents of an apartment building in Rome were astonishingly unscathed after the top three floors of their building, close to the Stadio Olimpico in the Flaminio area, collapsed in the early hours of Friday morning.
Rubble piled up on the street below and cars were half-buried, but 10 families were safely evacuated from the building on Piazza Gentile da Fabbriano, near the riverside in northern Rome, and without any injury,Roma Today reported.
The fifth, sixth and seventh floor collapsed at around 4am in what one resident said “felt like an explosion”.
“We thought it was a bomb,” the resident told the newspaper.
Their lucky escape was down to an engineer who lives on the second floor. Alarmed by creaking sounds coming from the seventh floor, neighbours called on the expert for help.
She noticed cracks on the walls, and so alerted the fire service, who advised residents to leave the building.
Source: http://www.thelocal.it/20160122/residents-have-lucky-escape-after-r...
Jan 22, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/cleveland/runway-closed-after-partia...
Runway closed after partial collapse at Hopkins
CLEVELAND-- Crews are repairing a runway at Cleveland Hopkins Airport after a portion of the road collapsed.
The airport is calling it a "pavement failure" and says it will have no impact on operations.
The other two runways will be used as crews make repairs.
According to the airport, this "normally happens during the freeze thaw cycle since it's a bit warmer."
Jan 25, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.cbs8.com/story/31102876/high-winds-collapsed-scaffolding...
High winds to blame for scaffolding collapse in Bankers Hill
Posted: Jan 31, 2016 6:27 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - High winds caused the scaffolding of a ten-story building in Bankers Hill to collapse Sunday afternoon.
The building is located at 6th Avenue and Quince Drive. According to witnesses, a worker who was at the site warned people in the area to move away from the building when he noticed the scaffolding beginning to sway from the high winds. The scaffolding then collapsed into the street, damaging several cars and motorcycles in the area.
The worker had been at the site specifically to loosen the tension of the scaffold sails in order to make it easier for the wind to pass through the scaffolding. However, the scaffolding collapsed before he could complete the task.
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews arrived at the scene and evacuated the residents of a nearby building that was hit by part of the scaffolding.
Fire officials say no one was injured during the collapse.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/san-pedro-home-collapses-we...
San Pedro Home Collapses Amid Stormy Weather
A vacant home undergoing remodeling work collapsed in San Pedro, causing a gas leak that was quickly secured, amid Sunday's windy, rainy weather.
The collapse was reported about 6:30 p.m. at 733 S. Leland St., Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
No one was injured and there was no fire, Humphrey said.
Department of Building and Safety personnel were summoned to the scene, according to Humphrey, who said first responders are not tasked with determining the cause of the collapse.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said though it wasn't 100 percent confirmed, the collapse was very likely weather-related.
The house may have shifted off its foundation, LAFD officials said.
"The gas leak was probably louder than the crash -- that's what made me call 911. I was just envisioning an explosion," Santos said. "I know they took the foundation out to fix it and they didn't reinforce it and with the wind and the rain, the house just shifted and fell back."
Feb 1, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://theworldlink.com/news/culvert-collapses-in-coquille-expect-d...
Culvert collapses on Fairview Road in Coquille; expect detour
COQUILLE — Fairview Road is closed in Coquille between Central Boulevard and North Collier Street because of a collapsed culvert.
The culvert is less than a quarter mile from Central Boulevard and is four to five feet deep. A detour is set up on Central Boulevard to 10th Street to North Collier.
At the meeting of the Coquille City Council on Monday evening, City Manager Ben Marchant said Fairview Road is a county-maintained road. He said the collapse was first noticed on Sunday.
"This is going to have a severe impact on our local economy," Marchant warned.
That's because trucks will have to make a lengthy detour, and the current alternatives aren't feasible for trucks that are heavily loaded, Marchant said.
Water in Cunningham Creek was still flowing as of late Monday afternoon.
"The biggest obstacle, frankly, is the weather," Marchant said.
Marchant said the culvert won't be repaired until the ground dries out, likely in the summer.
Marchant said he was in touch with county officials to seek an acceptable alternative for truck drivers.
Feb 2, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
Residents of Bay Tree Lakes subdivision who travel Horsepen Road got a rude surprise when a culvert that passes under the roadway collapsed. Bay Tree Lakes Property Owners Association President Charles Atkinson estimated that repairs to the roadway could take as much as two to three months.
NC Bay Tree Lakes residents see road collapse
http://www.bladenonline.com/bay-tree-lakes-residents-see-road-colla...
“It was a 40 plus year old culvert,” said Atkinson of the collapsed portion of the roadway.
He stressed that no one was injured when the collapse occurred though there are reports a car fell into the hole.
Atkinson said that the Property Owners Association does not own the roads within the subdivision. He said the roads are the responsibility of the subdivision’s developer Steve Jones.
Atkinson did say that an engineer is expected to inspect the collapse site and it has been requested the engineer inspect the other bridges and culverts in the development, to avoid another possible issue.
“There is a lot of technical work that has to be done,” said Atkinson.
He added that he is meeting Jones sometime on Friday at the site to discuss the matter further.
Feb 5, 2016
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wbrc.com/story/31140236/building-collapse-injury-downtow...
Nashville building collapse
Posted: Feb 04, 2016 11:08 AM EST Updated: Feb 04, 2016 7:27 PM EST
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A driver was injured when a building partially collapsed in downtown Nashville on Thursday morning.
Kimberly Nichols was in her catering truck when a wall of the United Methodist Publishing House building fell onto her truck.
The 58-year-old was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-critical injuries.
"My mother was driving and a building collapsed on her catering truck, but she feels blessed that she is alive. Her injuries are still unknown at this time and she is being evaluated," said Nichols' daughter, Jessica Mendez.
Part of the wall fell on a power line, causing power outages for more than 1,600 NES customers in the area. Power has since been restored.
Lee Roberts told Channel 4 he drives by the work site every day.
"It's been for several months now, and a lot of times they'll do some of this work on the weekends when there's less traffic around, but they've been working all day long for several months now," he said.
Police said Demonbreun Street will be closed from 8th Avenue South to 10th Avenue South until Friday morning when demolition has been completed.
“It is my understanding that the contractor had thought that as the work advanced, that there was the possibility of this happening, so they were planning to do the bulk of the work at night,” said Metro police spokesman Don Aaron. “Obviously, they weren’t anticipating their actions today causing the building to come outward onto the street.”
TOSHA is investigating the circumstances that led to the demolition and to make sure workers aren’t in any further danger.
Stephen Cline, the president of Demo Plus, said they are working with authorities to understand the collapse.
Over the last five years, Demo Plus has had three violations, each from a 2014 inspection. The company was fined $125 for a respiratory protection violation and another $125 for a hazardous chemical communication violation. They also received a third violation without a fine when the employer didn’t provide annual retraining on hazardous chemicals.
No one else was injured in the collapse.
Feb 5, 2016