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On Wednesday, two City Center buildings that were part of a demolition project collapsed, leaving six people dead and more than a dozen injured. In the wake of the tragic Philadelphia building collapse, the mayor said a full investigation will take place.
Rescue workers were still searching through rubble at 22nd and Market Streets for survivors today. A crane was brought in to help clear the area where the buildings once stood and to take down a wall at the neighboring Salvation Army, which partially collapsed.
Questions have already been raised as to the inspection and permitting process for the demolition crew that has been associated with causing the deadly collapse. The city Licenses and Inspections commissioner said the city requires sites to be inspected prior to demolition and again when the process begins to disturb the ground.
It appears that the city does not require another inspection to take place once the demolition actually begins. The commissioner said that the site was inspected on May 14 and another inspection was not required since then. The city’s process has been criticized by those in the industry for being ineffective.
Apparently, the people who were injured and killed had been in the Salvation Army store, which was right next to the buildings that were being demolished. It appears that heavy machinery was used to rip out a beam that was supporting the store, causing the building to partially collapse and trapping many people inside.
In a statement, the mayor acknowledged that it is unusual that people were allowed inside the store with the demolition going on next door, and city officials said they have yet to determine what went wrong.
It is expected that officials will release the names of the five women and one man who were killed in the accident sometime today. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, it is entirely likely that the victims’ families and those who were injured could have personal injury claims against the demolition company, the city or other negligent parties involved.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “Mayor pledges full investigation after 6 die in Philadelphia building collapse,” Frank Kummer, Emily Babay and Robert McGovern, June 6, 2013