STORM2K

Collapse at Tropicana
ATLANTIC CITY-October 30, 2003 — Emergency workers are at the Tropicana casino on S. Brighton Ave. at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Police say about 6 floors have collapsed in a construction area.

IMAGES The collapse scene
VIDEO: Chopper 6 above the scene

Early reports indicate there are people trapped, but that has not yet been confirmed. So far there are 2 reports of injuries.

Robert Levy, director of emergency management for the city, told reporters that officials were sending search cameras and dogs into the rubble to look for any dead or injured workers.

"We are planning for the worst. It's one of the worst collapses Altantic City has ever seen," Levy said.

Allyn Seel, deputy director of Emergency Management for Atlantic City, said he was directing the set-up of a triage area to evaluate injured workers. He said there were hundreds of workers on site and they were being ordered away from the accident. The incident happened around 10:40am.

I ended up getting paper towels for an injured worker that escaped but had a huge gash in the head. Another co-worker got water and a chair. The guys are all in their union groups in front of our building waiting for word of their co-workers.

Heading to lunch now. Gonna watch for this on the news stations. Six floors!! :o

I hope there are no fatalities or serious injuries. Keep us updated.

Unbelievable!! I also hope there are no fatalities or life threatening injuries. Did the roof collapse first? Six floors in the middle of a building does not sound too good for whoever built it.

Six floors? Unbelieveable!

It looks like the roof collapsed on top of the other floors. One radio station is reporting 2 deaths, all of the others are saying two injuries but there are people missing. They have search teams in there now.

I am so sick right now. I want to do more for those guys that are out there!

OMG! That is so horrible. I pray for those who are injured or unaccounted for, and I the families of those who have died are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hmmmm makes more sense now. Didn't Atlantic City see some heavy rain and wind from Isabelle? The roof may have sustained damage from her.

Keep us posted Steph!!

I just read about it on CNN.com.
Just awful. Praying for the victims.

Lindaloo wrote:Hmmmm makes more sense now. Didn't Atlantic City see some heavy rain and wind from Isabelle? The roof may have sustained damage from her.

Keep us posted Steph!!

It's possible but noone knows for sure! My whole street is blocked off.

Wow Stephanie - how tragic - keep us updated - prayers go out to all those involved.

Patricia

I had no idea that you were that close Steph!! Is it close to your home or office?

Prayers going out to all the people involved in this tragedy!!

It's across the street from my office.

They're still searching for people right now. Everyone (except for me) felt a rumble when it happened and then I heard that part of the building collapsed.

The thing is my car is in the parking garage that was next to where the accident is and right now noone can get in or out of it.

Another update:

At least 1 dead in N.J. parking garage collapse
Thursday, October 30, 2003 Posted: 1:58 PM EST (1858 GMT)



The parking garage was under construction in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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(CNN) -- At least one person was killed and 12 are missing Thursday after six stories of a parking garage under construction at an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino collapsed, a spokeswoman for Mayor Lorenzo Langford said.

At least 20 others were injured in the garage collapse at the Tropicana and Casino Resort, which occurred at 10:30 a.m. EST, authorities said.

A witness in a building near the site said she heard a large rumble, looked out her window and saw the structure -- with workers atop it -- fall.

Fourteen people were taken to Atlantic City Medical Center's City Division, where 10 were in the trauma unit, said hospital spokeswoman Debbie Wrigley. Four others were at the center's Mainland Division, 20 miles outside of Atlantic City, she said.

Another two victims were carried to Shore Memorial Hospital, a spokeswoman said.

The 2,400-space parking lot is part of a construction project to be called The Quarter. It was projected to be completed in March.

According to the plans submitted to investors, the Tropicana will be the largest hotel and the third-largest casino and the only indoor dining/entertainment/retail complex in the city once the work is complete.

Construction on the $225 million project, which is intended to evoke images of Old Havana, began in April 2002.

The resort is owned by Aztar Corp. A woman who answered the phone at the company said she could not say whether the project would be completed as scheduled. "I cannot tell you anything right now," she said.

Oh no!!! That is horrible!!!! Let's just hope for the best!!

I am praying for those people there.

Oh my Steph! This is horrible. I'll keep them in my prayers and hope they find survivors.

I have to say....thank God you weren't there and you're ok!!!!

It's hard to focus though. They're still searching for people.

I'm staying over at one of my co-worker's house tonight who lives relatively near-by so I can in to work tomorrow, though I'm not sure how I'll get home tomorrow night yet.

Considering everything that's happened, my worries are insignificant!

Stephanie wrote:It's hard to focus though. They're still searching for people.

I'm staying over at one of my co-worker's house tonight who lives relatively near-by so I can in to work tomorrow, though I'm not sure how I'll get home tomorrow night yet.

Considering everything that's happened, my worries are insignificant!

Your worries are natural. Hang in there!!

Watching it on CBS now...what's next?

Hopefully not a further collapse Colin!