Source: WSVN 7 News
Police have reopened a section of a major roadway in Miami after a building overhang and part of a roof collapsed onto the pavement, prompting an hours-long closure in the middle of rush hour and beyond, officials said.
City of Miami Fire Rescue responded to reports of a building collapse along the 3100 block of Northwest Seventh Avenue, at around 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday.
Surveillance video from a business across the street captured the partial overhang. The overhang was seen coming down moments after a black SUV heading northbound drove by the building.
Officials said the occupants of an apartment located at the rear of the structure were evacuated in case there was a secondary collapse.
Witnesses said there was pedestrian on the sidewalk moments before the partial collapse.
Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Miami Police officers shut down Northwest Seventh Avenue in both directions between 30th and 32nd streets while crews clear debris from the street and the Miami Building Department completes its assessment of the building’s integrity.
“This building had an unsafe structure problem already. They’d been cited,” he said.
Gabela said this near disastrous moment is an example of why inspections and upkeep of structures are so important.
Fire officials said the structure will possibly be demolished, probably within a week. As of late Wednesday night, the cause of the partial collapse is unknown.
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