A four story building in downtown Philadelphia has collapsed on Wednesday. ABC News reported that the building that was being demolished collapsed on a Salvation Army store and injured 13 people and killing two others.
The thrift store, which was a popular shopping spot, was crushed at about 10:45 a.m. and crews would search for at least 12 to 24 hours officials said to ABC News at an afternoon briefing.
Thus far, crews have pulled 14 people from the rubble. One witness Jordan McLaughlin said to CNN that workers were knocking down the building and it collapsed the wrong way.
"There was a big aftershock," he said to CNN. "There were people that fell over, there were people screaming and running across the street. We could hear people screaming inside the building."
Another witness said to CBS News that they heard a large noise before the building collapsed.
"I was standing there looking out my window, watching the men at work on the building, and the next thing I know I heard something go kaboom," said Veronica Haynes to CBS who was on the fifth floor of an apartment building across the street. "Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down ... onto the other building."
Kate Slyman another witness was walking when she heard the building fall. She said to CBS, who heard the collapse, was walking to her apartment when the building fell. "My first thought was: terrorists."
CBS reported that the city issued a demolition permit for the building on February 1. Records show the contractor as Plato Marinakos Jr. an architect. He said to the Associated Press that Campbell Construction was in charge of the demolition.
Maj. John Cranford of The Salvation Army said to CBS that officials were coordinating with the fire and police department and sent their own disaster response team.
"Our No. 1 concern is for the safety of our customers and the employees who were involved," he said to CBS. "We ask for the public to pray for those involved."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
