The cleanup of the deadly parking garage collapse earlier this week remains “very dangerous” and “incredibly complex” — as emergency workers try to safely remove the remaining vehicles, city officials said Friday.
“Those vehicles have gas, other fluids that can cause hazards,” said Commissioner of Emergency Management Zachary Iscol, adding, “In addition to that, we have the added complexity of electric vehicles.
“We know that there are all sorts of issues with electric vehicle batteries.”
The disaster in the Financial District at 57 Ann St. on Tuesday afternoon left one dead — parking garage manager Willis Moore — and five others injured.
Iscol said the Department of Buildings found that the third floor caved into the second floor, which then all fell into the footprint of the building.
There is also a partial collapse of the rear wall and the front wall is “bulging,” Iscol said.
“Engineers determined that the parking garage was no longer structurally stable and in danger of further collapse,” the commissioner added.
City officials called the parking garage collapse “very dangerous.” William FarringtonThat is requiring demolition workers to brace the adjacent building walls, including one that’s owned by Pace University.
“We are working very hard right now to ensure the stability of the surrounding structures as we proceed with the demolition,” Iscol said.
City officials told people with cars parked in the garage to contact their insurance companies and the city through 311 to provide their car information.
Zachary Iscol said the mixture of electric vehicles into the collapse adds “complexity.” NYC Mayor's Office“This is going to take some time but we will reach out to find times as we move these vehicles out of that location for you to possibly come and find things that you might want in your vehicles,” Iscol said.
The FDNY spent the first few days trying to remove vehicles from the garage as it started a controlled demolition of the structure.
The body of Moore was recovered around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit conducted a ceremonial transfer of the remains since the victim’s daughter is a member of the police department, city officials said.
Dozens of cars were on the roof at the time of the deadly collapse. MobileHealthInc/AFP via Getty Images
The collapse happened just after 4 p.m. Tuesday., leaving one garage worker dead and four others injured. Gina M Randazzo/ZUMAWhile the official cause of the collapse has yet to be determined, a preliminary report from the FDNY pinned the deadly event on the building’s age and the number of vehicles parked on the top floor.
There were 47 SUVs on the top floor of the garage, city officials said Friday.
The disaster, which occurred this week, left one person dead. ZUMAPRESS.com
The FDNY has spent the first few days since the collapse removing vehicles from the garage. PETER GERBER/AFP via Getty ImagesPhotos from the aftermath showed dozens of cars that had fallen into the second floor.
The garage, which is owned by Ann Street Realty company since 1989, also has a lengthy history of structural issues, which documented required serious repairs, including 11-foot cracks in walls and roof.
It was unclear if those repairs were ever completed.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has opened a probe into whether the cause of the collapse could be criminal in nature.
