The lower Manhattan building collapse video shows the unfortunate moments when a demolition site was struck with an unexpected tragedy, killing one construction worker and injuring three others. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. near the intersection of Lafayette and Canal streets in SoHo.
According to the FDNY, the back wall of a three-story building that was under demolition collapsed, trapping four workers. FDNY Chief of Department John J. Hodgens reported that the collapse of a wall and its scaffolding resulted in one worker being trapped by debris, two falling on top, and another being injured.
Firefighters used manual tools to clear the rubble. Responding in less than four minutes, the fire units assessed the situation, freed the trapped worker promptly, and transferred him to the hospital. Unfortunately, the victim was declared dead upon arrival at Bellevue Hospital.
The Department of Buildings reported that the work site had received five safety violations in February, one related to overloading the work site.
Although the violations were subsequently fixed, the city is now investigating whether a similar mistake could have contributed to Tuesday’s accident. Despite the safety violations, Acting Buildings Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik said that the site was fully permitted for the demolition work.
The Department of Buildings and New York City Mayor Eric Adams thanked the firefighters for their rapid response to the incident. “Just a quick response by the FDNY to go up and be able to deal with this unfortunate accident,” Adams said. “It’s a combination of the Department of Buildings that will continue the investigation to determine exactly what happened here.”
FDNY Chief of Department John J. Hodgens provided additional details about the incident, stating that the collapse occurred when the work area was overloaded with debris, causing a collapse of the floor beam. Neither the contractor nor the developer listed on the building was immediately available for comment.
However, the Department of Buildings will continue its investigation to determine precisely what happened at the site.
The incident occurred despite the site being fully permitted for demolition work. The identity of the deceased worker has not been released. The city is now investigating whether the safety violations issued in February contributed to the accident.
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