…Researched and contributed by Judah Olanisebee.
A parking garage in Lower Manhattan, New York City collapsed on Tuesday, causing the death of at least one person and injuring five others.
The garage was found to have four open building violations, including a “failure to maintain building” from 2003.
Reports indicate that the city called the violation “hazardous” with missing or defective concrete in at least one part of the building noted in the report.
Another open violation from 2009 included a “loose piece of concrete in danger of falling at various locations.”
One resident near the Financial District parking garage described hearing “big bangs” before the wall came down, leaving a hole in her apartment.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, but a witness to the horror incident described the sound of the crash as being an “incredible noise.”
Responding firefighters did enter the building upon arrival, but retreated when the structure was deemed unstable.
The cause of death of the deceased individual has not been made public, and five people are being treated at a local hospital, according to FDNY Chief of Operations James Esposito.
Several buildings in the immediate area were evacuated after the incident, and officials have said that a police presence will remain in the area as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident.
The parking garage at Enterprise Ann Parking in 57 Ann Street, Lower Manhattan, was built in 1925 and received its certificate of occupancy in 1957 for automobile parking.
The building has been cited multiple times since 2008 for violations relating to cracks in the concrete.
Several New York residents who live near the building said the structure was known to be old, and the tragedy was “not surprising.”
The garage was used for parking by the New York Sheriff’s Department, and all of their staff were accounted for.
The incident resulted in the deaths of one worker, while five others were injured.
It also saw people trapped in an elevator shaft as the decrepit building’s floors ‘pancaked’ on top of each other at 4.10 pm, according to city officials.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing.