Rachel Sadon
Update 2:
At a 4 p.m. press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser said a cadaver dog registered a “possible hit” in the garage. No one has been reported missing, and all construction workers at the site have been accounted for, according to a fire department spokesman. Two workers were hurt in the incident, and one of them was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The effort has moved from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery one, which typically takes longer.
Deputy Chief says fatality isn’t confirmed, just working off of cadaver dog. Adds no one has been reported missing. pic.twitter.com/sE5ecHkokA
— Cam Thompson WNEW (@CamThompsonWNEW) May 1, 2015
DC fire says a recovery mission isn’t as fast-paced as rescue mission. Crews won’t take as many risks.
— Cam Thompson WNEW (@CamThompsonWNEW) May 1, 2015
Update 1:
NBC4 reports that not everyone is accounted for at the site, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser, and that two people may be trapped in a truck inside.
Source says 2 people trapped inside a truck in collapsed parking garage. Structure too unstable to attempt rescue as of now.
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) May 1, 2015
“It has been a pretty active construction site, so we’re used to different noises and building shakes,” said Tom Wall, who works for the National Trust For Historic Preservation, which has offices on the 10th and 11th floors. “But this was way different.”
He and colleagues heard loud booms as the building shook violently this morning around 10 a.m. When Wall looked out the window, he watched as a sinkhole formed in the courtyard that sits above the parking garage. The uprooted trees and plant life collapsed onto the cars below.
He and a client ran down to the parking garage to check on the client’s car (which Wall admits maybe wasn’t the best idea), where Wall took photos of the dramatic wreckage.
“It looked like a war zone. Building rubble debris was everywhere,” he told DCist. “The pathway to the bottom courtyard was just completely obliterated.”
“It was pretty devastating looking. Hopefully no one was hurt,” Wall said as he drove home. “We were told not to return to the office.”
Original:
First responders are at the scene of the Watergate building, where three floors of a parking garage reportedly collapsed around 10 a.m. this morning.
According to D.C. Fire and EMS, there’s at least one injury. WJLA reports that one person may be trapped in the collapsed structure.
#watergate garage collapse. That Mazda to the left is our ride. Photo by @_minhtran pic.twitter.com/YElp3jgk3d
— Elliott Munoz (@elliottmunoz) May 1, 2015
#BREAKING: DC Fire says there has been a “catastrophic collapse” of a four-story parking garage at the #Watergate. More info soon. #fox5dc
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5newsdc) May 1, 2015
Structural Collapse – 2600blk of Virginia Ave. NW – Units on scene. #dctraffic
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) May 1, 2015
Parking garage collapse at the Watergate office building. Praying everyones safe. @amaxsmith please help spread word pic.twitter.com/QbfMEMqOi8
— T. Wall (@tcwall) May 1, 2015
@Fox5Kyle @amaxsmith yes here’s more pic.twitter.com/iTLzBeV73s
— T. Wall (@tcwall) May 1, 2015
Three search and rescue K9 dogs and their handlers are en route from Montgomery County, a fire and rescue service spokesman said.
#mcfrs Canine Handler Josh Kurland & partner Mason at MoCo FS31 prior to departing for DC – Mason in a’live-find’ K9 pic.twitter.com/IVyDyUZniQ
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 1, 2015
The 2500-2700 blocks of Virginia Avenue are closed as rescuers respond. The building had been undergoing renovations.
