Hurricane Irma Causes Crane to Collapse in Miami

At least one crane in Miami collapsed as Hurricane Irma made landfall in South Florida on Sunday morning.

The crane, perched on a building next to the federal prison, crashed down in downtown Miami, WSVN-TV reported.

“WORST FEARS COME TRUE - A construction crane has collapsed onto a building on N.E. 3rd Street between Biscayne Boulevard and N.E. 2nd Avenue in Miami. Officials warned this could happen,” reported WPLG in Florida. It said no injuries were reported.

(djdrolive/Instagram screenshot)

An Instagram user, “DjDroLive,” captured the downed crane from his high-rise bedroom.

“I shot it myself, from my bedroom, you been up since 630am I was going to take a nap around 10am when I heard the noise, right away I got up and recorded it! #crane #miami,” he wrote.

(djdrolive/Instagram screenshot)

Officials warned that more cranes could come toppling down across Miami and in other parts of Florida as Irma—a Category 4 storm that made landfall in the Florida Keys with 130 mph winds—moves north across the state. “A tower crane has collapsed on top of a high rise under construction at 300 Biscayne Blvd. AVOID THE AREA!!” the city of Miami said Sunday, Fox News reported.

Miami officials urged residents to leave if they live close to any of these cranes.

“We’re telling people that if you live by a construction site you should evacuate,” Alyce Robertson, the executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, told Fox on Thursday. “The winds are so strong that it’s not known what will happen.”

Miami Police also told people to stay inside, and its officers won’t be able to respond due to hurricane-force winds.

Reports on social media indicate that Irma has downed power lines, trees, and signs on Sunday.

“I am very concerned about the west coast,” Florida Governor Rick Scott told “Fox News Sunday.” The coastline is home to cities like Tampa and St. Petersburg, Reuters reported.

Some 1.4 million Florida homes and businesses lost power as the storm slammed the southern part of the state, according to Florida Power & Light. FPL said it would have to completely rebuild part of its system, which would take weeks not days.

Reuters contributed to this report.