Four feared dead in multi-storey car park collapse

The top five stories of a multi storey car park under construction at a New Jersey casino collapsed last night, sending concrete slabs and metal beams crashing down as workers ran for cover.

Three people were killed and one was missing, officials said.

About 20 people were injured in the collapse at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, several critically. State police said as many as 30 workers were trapped immediately after the collapse.

Searchers used cameras, dogs and the missing man’s mobile phone in an attempt to find him. But early today they said they were focused on recovery, not rescue.

“There’s always a slim possibility” that the missing ironworker is alive, said Chief James Foley, task force leader for the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue team. ”But we don’t see anything at this point that would indicate that.”

Authorities worried about the 10-storey building’s stability.

Robert Levy, the city’s emergency management director, said the building “could go at any time.” He said search cameras and dogs had gone into the rubble, and trucks carrying lumber were being brought in to shore up the building.

“We are planning for the worst,” Levy said. “It’s one of the worst collapses Atlantic City has ever seen.”

Stacey Strasky, 40, said she was outside the car park on Sunday when she heard popping noises. She told a security guard, who said the building was only settling.

Les Down, 44, was working on the sixth floor of the car park when a co-worker felt the floor drop a couple of inches. Moments later, the floor disappeared.

“It fell all the way down and a couple of his buddies landed on top of him,” said Down’s brother, Bruce.

The mason worker was able to walk to emergency crews and was taken to Atlantic City Medical Centre, where he has two broken collar bones and a possible neck injury, his brother said.

Harold Simmons, 42, a pipefitter who was on the second floor, said about 300 to 400 workers were at the site when it collapsed.

“It sounded like an earthquake. The whole building was shaking. You didn’t know where to run. I tried to run to a staircase, but the staircase was wiped out. I went to another staircase and that one was wiped out,” said Simmons, who eventually followed other workers out.