One dead, three missing after Crane collapses on 18-storey Hard Rock hotel under construction in New Orleans

One person has been killed, three are unaccounted for, and 18 were taken to hospitals after a Hard Rock Cafe and

Hotel under construction in New Orleans collapsed. The structure collapsedafter a heavy crane being used for its construction fell on it. Debris has fallen onto surrounding streets and the building appears to be unstable.

The New Orleans fire department received reports at 9:12 am local time that the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown New Orleans had collapsed. One person died at the scene, according to Fire Chief Timothy McConnell, who added that the building is now structurally unstable saying, “another collapse is possible”

Firefighters evacuated construction workers inside the hotel after the “upper six to eight” floors collapsed, McConnell said. Emergency medical services director Emily Nichols said that first responders evaluated 19 people at the scene, 18 of whom were transported to hospitals and are in stable condition.    

Three people are still missing, and there are no reports of injury to passers-by. Due to the hotel’s unstable structure, the operation to clear the area is ongoing, according to local Homeland Security office director Collin Arnold.