Philadelphia parking garage to be demolished after deadly collapse

PHILADELPHIA - A parking garage in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighborhood is expected to be demolished Friday after a partial collapse killed one worker and left two others missing and presumed dead. 

The backstory:

The collapse happened at about 2:17 p.m. Wednesday near 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue. 

Emergency crews responded to the scene and immediately rescued one worker, who later died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. 

Two other workers were considered missing after the collapse, and later presumed dead after search and rescue efforts turned up no signs of life at the collapse scene. 

The workers have not yet been identified. 

"We want you to know that we indeed grieve their loss tonight, and we will continue to stand by shoulder-to-shoulder to support those families that have been directly impacted," said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker in a Thursday night press conference. 

All three victims were members of Ironworkers Local 401 and the Philadelphia building and construction trades. 

Search and rescue operators had been working around the clock at the garage, as technical specialists worked to stabilize the remainder of the garage and four highly trained search dogs scoured the scene. 

Parked announced Thursday night that their rescue efforts had transitioned to a recovery effort.  

The garage was under construction and owned by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 

What's next:

A controlled demolition of the structure at 3000 Grays Ferry Ave is expected to begin Friday afternoon, according to the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. Officials warned residents to expect increased activity and noise in the area and advised nearby businesses and residents to avoid the scene and keep windows closed during the process.

The collapse centered around one of the garage's staircases and the remainder of the structure is expected to be demolished Friday as recovery efforts continue.

The collapse has impacted the local community, with streets closed from 29th Street to 33rd Street along Grays Ferry Avenue and the nearby shopping plaza remaining closed. 

Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel and First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford emphasized that safety is the top priority and urged residents to avoid the area.

The investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing, with local, state and federal agencies involved. 

"We will continue to investigate this garage collapse, and we will do it thoroughly and efficiently to learn all the relevant facts of this terrible tragedy," said Parker. Solicitor Rene Garcia added, "There are many agencies, local, state and federal, that are conducting investigations because now is the best time to preserve all evidence."

The city is working with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and other partners to keep the public informed. Residents in need of trauma support are encouraged to call 988 for assistance.

Officials said they will hold a community meeting and provide explanations as soon as more information is available.