One person has died and two others are believed to be missing after a parking garage under construction partially collapsed Wednesday afternoon in the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia, officials said.
The collapse was reported just after 2 p.m. on the 3000 block of Grays Ferry Avenue, according to Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson.
Firefighters arrived to find the multi‑level structure compromised, with a large pile of debris visible along one side of the building. Search‑and‑rescue efforts began immediately but were slowed as officials assessed the stability of the structure. Thompson said crews have been focusing on lower levels of the garage, possibly near a stairwell or elevator shaft, and that the building must be stabilized before rescuers can safely continue operations.
Authorities confirmed that one individual later died from injuries at a hospital, while two others remain unaccounted for in the rubble. The cause of the collapse has not yet been determined, and the surrounding area has been closed to traffic as heavy equipment is brought in to assist recovery efforts.
The seven‑level parking garage was under construction as part of an expansion project for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, intended to increase employee parking. The project had drawn community opposition earlier this year over concerns about traffic and environmental impacts. Investigations into the collapse are ongoing.
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