Showing posts with label garage collapse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garage collapse. Show all posts

Friday, May 24, 2013

LATEST PHOTOS FROM GARAGE COLLAPSE AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA

Here is the scene tonight at the site of yesterday's partial garage collapse at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

You'll note the supports in place to shore up the floors, and the crane that is assisting.

The road that passes through the garage remains closed, but the mall is fully open and operational tonight.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

GARAGE COLLAPSES AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA, 1 DEAD, 1 VICTIM REMOVED FOR TRANSPORT

A partial collapse of a garage at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this afternoon left one person dead, and a second victim trapped. Both were reportedly construction workers.

The trapped victim was recovered by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue teams. This person was reported to be in shock. Two medevac helicopters were on scene. The patient is being transferred to a local hospital.

It is unclear what the cause of the collapse was, or whether construction taking place related to mall expansion played any role.

Fire officials and technical experts are now inspecting the scene to determine the stability and safety of the garage and nearby mall structures.

Crews on scene report that the first floor of the garage has been shored up. One worker reports "no [garage] columns showing any stressors," a positive sign, but it is way too early to speculate.

Fire officials are also concerned about the heat, requesting bottled water for firefighters. Potentially severe thunderstorms are expected to pass through the area in a few hours.

Stay tuned here, and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for updates.