Massive explosion, building collapse in fatal fire in Buffalo, New York
An explosion during a fire knocked over firefighters battling the flames in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday morning.
At least eight construction workers in Connecticut were injured after a building partially collapsed just after noon Friday a few blocks from Yale University and its medical school.
The building in New Haven was under construction at the time of the collapse. Workers told first responders that too much concrete pooled in one area after it was poured faster than they could spread it, causing the collapse, Fire Chief John Alston Jr. said during a news conference.
First responders had additional urgency to rescue the victims because the concrete was drying, he said.
"Our units responded immediately within minutes and found several persons in varying degrees of injury, from broken bones to three that were partially buried under the rubble," Alston added.
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At least eight construction workers in Connecticut were injured after a building partially collapsed Friday a few blocks from Yale University and its medical school. (Glenn Duda)
"They did some excellent work under some harrowing conditions," Alston said. "I'm very proud of that considering what happened in Iowa recently. We've been talking about collapses in our area, so they responded admirably."
In Davenport, Iowa, three people are feared dead after a partial building collapse Sunday.
Using ladders and ropes, the first responders helped the injured trapped behind jagged rebar and other debris to safety.
"We heard a crash and we jumped up," witness Danean Doheny said. "It was crazy. It was very emotional and scary. I'm just glad everybody for the most part is OK."
He works on the fourth floor of a neighboring building.
He added that the concrete continued to run for a short time after the collapse on workers who were injured in a deep hole at the site. Those in the hole were hoisted out in rescue baskets via ropes.
Dogs were sent in to the building after everyone was accounted for to make sure no one else was inside.
Firefighters rescue a worker after the partial collapse of a building under construction in New Haven, Connecticut. (Paul Haring via AP)
Thirty-six people were on site at the time of the New Haven collapse and all of them have been accounted for, officials said.
Some of the people who were rescued suffered injuries, a spokesperson for Mayor Justin Elicker said.
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During the press conference, Elicker said seven people were injured, including two critically. The number of injured was later updated to eight.
The building in New Haven was under construction at the time of the collapse. (Associated Press)
Six of them were rescued for firefighters and two were able to get out of the building themselves.
"They were doing a concrete pour on this building and as they were pouring concrete, a portion of the second floor collapsed onto the first floor and then into the basement," Erlicker said, Boston 25 News reported.
He added, "There will be a significant investigation as with any construction situation like this."
Yale referred to it as a "building construction accident," in a campus alert sent out just after 1 p.m. local time, adding that Lafayette Street was closed between Church Street South and Congress Avenue.
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The two-story building is owned by Yale and is being developed into a seven-story residential building.
City officials said they planned to issue a stop work order at the site until it is safe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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