1 dead, 2 unaccounted for in Philadelphia parking garage collapse; search ongoing
1 dead, 2 unaccounted for after Grays Ferry parking garage collapse
A parking garage under construction at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue in South Philadelphia collapsed Wednesday afternoon, killing one person and leaving two unaccounted for.
PHILADELPHIA - Emergency crews are conducting search and rescue operations following a partial collapse of a parking garage in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood that has resulted in one death and two people unaccounted for, according to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
What we know:
Officials responded to reports of a partial collapse of a seven-story garage that was under construction at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue around 2:17 p.m. Wednesday.
In an update Wednesday, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced one person was rescued and taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Philly parking garage collapse: Mayor Parker, city officials give update
Mayor Cherelle Parker and city officials provided an update on the ongoing emergency response and operations following a collapse at a parking garage that has been under construction in South Philadelphia.
Fire Commissioner Thompson said two other people were rescued and treated at a nearby hospital.
Two other people are still unaccounted for and are considered missing, Mayor Parker said.
Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson says responding firefighters immediately began search and rescue operations at the site and that the operation is still ongoing.
Thompson said the search and rescue would be a ‘protracted’ operation as crews first needed to stabilize the structure before the rescue efforts could continue.
The area surrounding the collapse is closed off, and the shopping plaza nearby will remain shut down for at least 24 hours, First Deputy Police Commissioner John Stanford said. "The best thing you can do is to stay away from the location and pray for everyone that's involved in this situation," said Stanford.
Dig deeper:
The parking garage was a seven-story structure under construction for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Eight permits were properly issued, all inspections were up-to-date, and the general contractor is HSC Builders and Construction, according to Mayor Parker.
Officials say the collapse was contained to the 30th Street side of the stair tower, where all seven levels of the stair system failed.
The subcontractor, Precast Services Incorporated, was installing precast concrete floor decking and roof segments when a roof segment failed, causing a progressive collapse, Parker said.
The Philadelphia Fire Department controls the scene, and the Licenses and Inspections (L&I) compliance and safety division has started an investigation.
The owner's engineer is on site for further assessment, and special inspections were assigned to Valerie Moody of Guy Construction Monitoring Services, according to Parker.
The structure remains unstable, and engineers are working to make it safe for first responders to enter.
"We cannot give you a timeframe on how long it's going to take, because as we move through this process, we are constantly reevaluating the structure and making plans to make sure that we can, conduct this operation as safely as possible," said Thompson.
Deputy Managing Director Dominic Mireles emphasized that the city is treating this as a major incident, with protocols in place for a comprehensive response.
"There will be some level of community impact to the daily commute and to business activity around here," said Mireles.
Residents in the area are advised to seek assistance if needed by calling 988 for trauma care, and to follow official city social media accounts for updates.
City officials stress transparency and community safety
The collapse has led to significant disruptions in South Philadelphia, including road closures and business shutdowns.
City officials are prioritizing public safety and transparency as the investigation continues.
"We will empower the tool of transparency. And my job as mayor is to ensure that the facts as I know them, that those facts are communicated to you, our citizens," said Parker.
The city is working closely with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and state officials to investigate the cause of the collapse and ensure accountability.
"The city will investigate this garage collapse thoroughly and efficiently to learn all of the relevant facts of this terrible tragedy, and we will continue to communicate directly with the people of Philadelphia," said Parker.
Community members are urged to avoid the area, respect the barriers in place, and rely on official sources for information.
What they're saying:
Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson confirmed that the Philadelphia Fire Department, police, and other agencies remain on site. "We will not stop until we have looked through every part of this affected structure to ensure that everyone is accounted for," said Thompson.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia sent FOX 29 the following statement:
"Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is aware of a serious construction incident at our parking garage construction site on 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue in Philadelphia. We are prioritizing the safety of the construction workers at this time and working closely with the City of Philadelphia and our construction partners. We will share additional information as it becomes available."
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro posted the following message to his X account:
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson shared the following statement with the public:
What we don't know:
The identity of the person killed in the collapse is unknown at this time. Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the collapse or how long the search and rescue operation will take.
The identities of the missing individuals have not been released, and the timeline for reopening the affected area remains uncertain.