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Grays Ferry garage demolition continues; NJ wildfire contained | Good Day Weekend
Demolition continues on Sunday at the Gray Ferry garage collapse site, where one person died and two remaining missing; a wildfire is contained in South Jersey after burning 160 acres.
PHILADELPHIA - Demolition work is underway Sunday morning at the site of the collapsed Grays Ferry parking garage, as crews move closer to safely beginning search operations for two missing workers.
What we know:
Crews have been working through the weekend to dismantle the unstable structure following Wednesday's deadly collapse.
The primary parking garage section has been brought down, shifting the crews' focus to the remaining exterior walls.
One of the massive exterior walls completely crashed down after being struck by a wrecking ball. The demolition team is now preparing to knock down the final standing wall.
This careful tear down is a prerequisite for recovery efforts, because rescue teams can't enter the site to locate the missing workers until the debris is officially deemed safe.
Philly parking garage collapse: 1 confirmed dead, 2 presumed dead as search shifts to recovery
City officials, led by Mayor Parker, provided an update on the emergency response and ongoing investigation following the collapse of a parking garage under construction near 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue in South Philadelphia, which resulted in one confirmed death and two individuals still missing that are presumed dead.
The backstory:
The structure partially collapsed Wednesday while still under construction, killing one ironworker who later died at the hospital and injuring two others.
Two additional workers remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead.
What they're saying:
The tragedy has deeply affected the neighborhood, with many expressing grief for the victims and their families.
"It’s just horrible for the families that are waiting for two men there," one resident said. "That died in this horrible tragedy."
Another added, "Most importantly, the people that lost their lives — sorry for the families."
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Demolition on collapsed Philadelphia garage, search for victims
Crews are expected to continue demolition of the partially-collapsed parking garage in Grays Ferry at first light Sunday. Officials can't recover the remains of two iron workers presumed dead until the building is deemed safe.
Dig deeper:
The collapse has also disrupted daily life for nearby residents, temporarily cutting off access to an adjacent shopping center and grocery store that many locals rely on for their daily needs.
A community food giveaway has been organized to help bridge the gap for residents losing access to their local market. It is scheduled for noon Sunday at D. Finnegan Playground, located at 1231 South 30th Street.
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Philly garage collapse: ironworkers honored, demolition planned
Philadelphia is mourning the loss of ironworkers after a partial garage collapse, with demolition of the site scheduled and citywide tributes underway.
What's next:
Once the site is stabilized, technical rescue teams will begin the search for the missing workers.
Authorities say they will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
The Source: Information from this article was sourced from reporting by FOX 29 Philadelphia.