At least two construction cranes collapsed onto buildings in downtown Miami as Hurricane Irma brought deadly winds into South Florida on Sunday.
One crane collapsed on top of a high rise under construction at 300 Biscayne Boulevard, City of Miami officials tweeted.
City officials said they were using geo-fencing, a 911 communication system, as well as social media, to contact residents in the area. Anyone in a building in the area of Northeast 3rd Street and Biscayne Boulevard was urged to stay in the building but away from any wall or window facing the crane.
The city has contacted the contractor and OSHA, and said building officials will assist OSHA “in any way possible.”
A second crane collapse was later reported at a building under construction on Northeast 30th Terrace.
IRMA: Construction Cranes Spin In Miami
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 10, 2017
City officials last week said that the cranes could not be tied down or moved.
Many were questioning why the cranes couldn’t be moved, Miami officials said Tuesday in a tweet last week. “The answer – it’s a slow process that can take about TWO weeks and there is NOT enough time,” they said. “Consider that the counterbalances on tower cranes weigh about 20,000 to 30,000 pounds.”
Tower cranes can rise hundreds of feet into the air on steel frameworks, and are used to lift steel, concrete, heavy construction equipment and other building materials.
They are designed to withstand winds up to 145 mph (233 kph), but not a Category 5 hurricane, when winds top 157 mph (252 kph), city officials said.
BREAKING: A 2nd Crane Has Collapsed & Is Dangling From Unfinished Building In Downtown #Miami pic.twitter.com/JuovoUty5P
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 10, 2017
BREAKING: Crane collapses in Miami as winds from Hurricane Irma blow in; it’s one of 2 dozen in city. – AP pic.twitter.com/5vtaPI5p0X
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 10, 2017
(Charles Gross – YWN)
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