Crews Sift Building Rubble for Survivors

Volunteers carrying two-way radios crept on their bellies Saturday into the cold, dank jumble of concrete that held 13 missing construction workers, hoping to find some sign of life two days after an apartment project collapsed.

At least 15 workers died when the L’Ambiance Plaza project fell Thursday in a cloud of dust. Although 41 survived, six were still hospitalized Saturday, and no survivors had been found since shortly after the disaster.

“As long as there’s anybody unaccounted for, we’ll continue with the rescue operation. I think the chances of anybody surviving are bleak, but it’s been known to happen in even worse catastrophes than this,” said Mayor Thomas Bucci.

Families Watch

Families and friends stood around the perimeter Saturday as fire engines pumped water out of the wreckage after a nightlong downpour and two crews of 25 started through the debris.

Emergency medical services director Jonathan Best said volunteers were crawling deep into crevices to look for survivors. Jack Laggis, an ironworker just off a 10-hour shift, said there are empty spaces large enough for a man to stand up.

“We chose a couple of construction workers who were very small. They’re going in on their bellies,” Best said. The rescuers carry flashlights and use small radios to check in with workers on the surface every few minutes.

Builders and government agencies were investigating the disaster, but city inspectors said they had found no construction code violations related to Thursday’s collapse.

Witnesses said workers had been lifting a slab into place and attaching it to vertical girders when the building collapsed. Construction industry experts said workers often do finishing work on lower floors while slabs are raised because the lift-slab technique is considered safe.

Theories about the collapse included implosion, a domino effect and swaying, said William Lone, a spokesman for the project developer.

Rescue Top Priority

Bucci said rescue, rather than investigation, remained the top priority. Structural engineers hoping to glean clues from the pattern of the wreckage postponed a helicopter flight for fear the chopper’s vibrations would cause an avalanche in the rubble.

Roar of Machinery

The roar of machinery echoed across downtown Saturday as three cranes lifted concrete blocks up to 10 feet across, while other cranes braced pieces of wreckage to prevent them from falling. Fluorescent orange spray paint and ribbons marked “alert areas” scented by dogs.