At least one person has been confirmed dead, eighteen injured, and three unidentified individuals missing, after a Hard Rock Hotel which was under construction collapsed in New Orleans, Associated Press had reported.
According to the report, nearby buildings were evacuated and officials said the building and a 270-foot (82.3-meter) construction crane still looming over the site were considered unstable. It was not immediately clear how that would affect search and rescue efforts. A drone was flown over the site to help authorities assess the situation.
It is not yet clear what caused the collapse and police have yet to release the identity of the deceased.
A mandatory evacuation is currently in place in the area, as according to authorities “the frame of the building is considered stable but is unsupported.”
“It’s a very dangerous situation,” Fire Superintendent Timothy McConnell said at a press conference, noting that another collapse is possible.
“I’m just asking for everyone to lift up in prayer,“ added Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “This remains a very fluid and very dangerous situation, and every few minutes something is falling off of this building.“
The New Orleans Fire Department has posted multiple photos of the site, which show the aftermath of the collapse.
One witness who saw the collapse took place told Nola.com that what first caught their attention was a “deep, rumbling sound,” adding that it sounded “like an aeroplane.”
“It looked like the concrete just slid from the top all the way down to the street,” he added. “The concrete just started to slide down the side.”
There are no reports of bystanders on the street being injured, the outlet reports.