Jun 21, 2009 9:22 pm US/Eastern
4-Story Building Collapses in Brooklyn
FDNY: 1 Taken To Hospital
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
The aftermath of a four-story building collapse at Ryerson and Myrtle in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 21, 2009.
Irwin Chen, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
-
-
Members of the FDNY and other rescuers respond to the collapse of a four-story building, visible on the right side of the image, at Ryerson and Myrtle in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 21, 2009.
Irwin Chen, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
A four-story building collapsed in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn Sunday, sending one man to the hospital with apparent minor injuries, authorities said.
The mixed-occupancy building with a bar on the first floor, located at Myrtle Ave. near Ryerson St,, collapsed shortly before 3 p.m.
It was a terrifying day for residents of the building. One wall came crashing down after another before the building completely collapsed. The good news is that everyone, all six people who live inside the building, have been accounted for. But neighbors say there were warning signs.
The owner of the building says that just moments before the walls came crashing down, a tenant called to say bricks were falling off the building.
"My tenant on the second floor said, 'things are falling off the wall,' so I told him, 'go outside, don't go back in,'" owner Michael Sang said.
The Fire Department responded to the scene. Three minor injuries were reported in all, none to firefighters. One man was taken to Brooklyn Hospital with minor injuries from falling bricks.
FDNY conducted standard search procedures, but said it appeared everyone was accounted for. The department said no one was in the building when it collapsed.
"It most likely was a warning sign, the bricks falling from the building," Deputy Assistant Fire Chief John Sudnik said.
Authorities said city inspectors were investigating nearby buildings to make sure they are structurally sound. The entire block was evacuated while the city Buildings Department conducted its inspections.
"We had a company come out, assess it, they removed the stucco," Sang said. "The next thing you know, I get a call from my tenant. I told him not to go back in, and the building collapsed when fire department was in the scene."
The owner will be meeting with buildings inspectors in the morning.
Several residents told CBS 2HD about cracks in the building that had not taken care of.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
More Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments