Author: David Pike

David Pike is an experienced news journalist with over 20 years experience as a UK News editor for WTX News and other news publications.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video

Eight people were rescued by first responders after a large apartment building partially collapsed in Iowa.

Search and rescue teams in Davenport, Iowa continue to search the ruins of a large, historic apartment building that collapsed on Sunday.

‘A portion of the rear building actually collapsed and separated from the building,’ Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten said at a press conference on Sunday.

‘Crews also found a large natural gas leak, and water leaking from all floors of the structure,’ the fire chief added.

The collapsed building once housed the historic Davenport Hotel (Picture: AP)

Seven people were pulled from the rubble after search and rescue crews immediately arrived at the scene, Carlsten said. They were also able to escort another 12 people who were self-evacuating from the building.

‘This is going to be a long and lengthy process,’ Carlsten said.

The fire chief said the apartment building’s deteriorating status has hampered some search and rescue efforts.

‘The building is structurally unsound, is posing a risk to responders,’ Carsten said, adding that search and rescue teams reported ‘secondary drops of debris’ coming from the structure.

Search and rescue crews monitor the scene in Davenport (Picture: AP)

A firefighter is seen searching a destroyed apartment (Picture: AP)

On Monday morning, Carlsten said that an eighth person was rescued by crews overnight. The victim was hospitalized immediately after rescue.

Officials said they were unsure there were any remaining residents inside the building.

‘This is an active scene, we will continue to work, continue to evaluate, and with the whole purpose of trying to find people and trying to get them out,’ Davenport Mayor Mike Matsen said on Sunday. He also added that some of the residents did not own cell phones or have a second way of communication.

The building contained 84 units of apartments and commercial spaces (Picture: AP)

An eighth person was pulled out of the rubble overnight as crews continued to work the scene (Picture: AP)

The building, situated just two blocks from the Mississippi River waterfront, had been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

It was built in 1907 and once housed the Davenport Hotel. It has since been converted to a mixed-use complex, housing 84 units of apartments and commercial space.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

Read More

DCI John Caldwell was shot numerous times in front of his young son (Picture: PA) Seven men have appeared in court after being charged with the attempted murder of a police chief inspector in Northern Ireland. John Caldwell ‘suffered life-changing injuries’ after being shot multiple times by masked gunmen at a sports complex in Omagh, Co Tyrone. His young son was with him as he loaded footballs into the boot of his car when the…

Read More

Concerns as Met Police move to cut response to mental health calls A former head of the police inspectorate has expressed concerns over the Metropolitan Police’s decision to no longer attend emergency mental health incidents unless there is an immediate threat to life. Zoe Billingham, the former Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, has described the plan as “potentially alarming,” suggesting that it could create a void in the response system. Mental…

Read More