Boston Chinatown: Partial Building Collapse

Seven stories of a building under construction in Boston’s Chinatown collapsed Thursday morning. Two people have been reported injured.
Boston Chinatown: Partial Building Collapse
3/20/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

BOSTON—Seven stories of a building under construction in Boston’s Chinatown collapsed Thursday morning. Two people have been reported injured.

An electrician and a laborer suffered, “non-life threatening injuries,” according to Boston EMS.

However, Local radio WBC reported that one worker appeared to have suffered severe head injuries. Both have been taken to the hospital and the site has been evacuated.

“A dead load on the top floor collapsed,” according to Deputy Fire Chief Robert Calobrisi, causing the lower floors to “pancake.”

According to a worker on-site, part of the the crane placed a load of materials on the top floor and it punch through multiple stories of decking.

The building is slated to be a 33-story residential building and was under development by AvalonBay communities.

CBT Architects designed the building. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will likely investigate the collapse.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is currently on-site. Walsh is the former president of Boston area Laborers Local 223.