What to KnowOne person was killed, two were hurt and two remain unaccounted for after the partial collapse The parking garage was under construction and not yet completed when it collapsedThe Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia owns the building and was adding the parking garage for employee useTh e structural collapse was contained to the 30th Street side of the stairwell, where all seven levels collapsed after a pre-cast concrete segment failed while being installedEngineers were on the scene as crews worked to stabilize the building, which Philadelphia’s fire chief said was currently unsafe for first responders who would carry out a search and rescue operationGrays Ferry Avenue between 29 and 33rd streets remain closed, and nearby homes and businesses are being told to expect disruptions for the time being, with no timeline for reopening currently available Editor’s note: This article is no longer being updated. For the newest developments on this story, click here. One person was killed, two people were hurt and two others are still missing after part of a parking garage in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood collapsed on Wednesday, officials said. Léelo en español aquí. The incident happened at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue around 2:17 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The scene remains active as nearby roads and businesses are closed to traffic. Grays Ferry Avenue between 29th and 33rd streets is expected to be closed for some time, and officials were unable to provide a timeline for reopening on Wednesday night. City leaders urged residents to stay away from the location as crews work and said that barriers would be put up to keep people out. During a press conference on Wednesday night, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said that when crews first made it to the scene, they found and rescued three people. They were all taken to a nearby hospital where one person was pronounced dead and the two others were treated and then released, Thompson said. A union representative for Iron Worker Local 401 said the person who died was a member of their union. Two more people are still unaccounted for, officials said. “We are not and we will not give up on these individuals and we will not rest until everyone is accounted for,” Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said. “This is a very, very complex situation.” Firefighters of Squad 47 were one block away when they heard the sounds of the collapse so they rushed to the scene right away and reported it. “I didn’t see it, I heard it,” said one witness. “It sounded like crumbling.” Fire officials said search and rescue efforts have been paused as crews worked to stabilize the building because officials are concerned the building could collapse further. “We have the right people on location to get this job done,” Commissioner Thompson said. “It’s going to take some time because we must, we have to stabilize this building for the safety of everyone involved, especially my rescuers. And it is an ongoing operation.” The structural collapse was contained to the 30th Street side of the stairwell, where all seven levels of the stair system collapsed after a pre-cast concrete segment failed while being installed, Parker said. “After placement, a precast roof segment failed and fell to the level below, literally triggering a progressive collapse of connected sections across all seven levels,” Parker said. According to Parker, the building required eight permits, which were all up to date. The building also had no current violations, NBC10 learned. However, the pre-cast concrete segments did not fall under the jurisdiction of the city’s Licenses and Inspections, Parker said. “The pre-cast concrete segments were manufactured off-site and installed by the manufacturer. This process does not require standard LI inspection,” Parker said. “Instead, it falls under required special inspections that include periodic inspections for pre-cast concrete installations.” The parking garage is part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s plan to expand employee parking, which has sparked controversy. NBC10 obtained a picture of what the project is intended to look like when it is completed. CHOP provided a statement on Wednesday saying, “Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is aware of a serious construction incident at our parking garage construction site on 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue in Philadelphia. We are prioritizing the safety of the construction workers at this time and working closely with the City of Philadelphia and our construction partners. We will share additional information as it becomes available.” Back in February, people in the community gathered to protest the construction of the garage, saying it would increase traffic congestion, harm the environment and affect public health. NBC10 had reached out to CHOP for comment regarding the planned garage and the protest. A spokesperson provided the following statement: “Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia remains committed to engaging with the residents of Grays Ferry to understand and address their feedback. We have held more than 20 community meetings with the Grays Ferry community, which has resulted in several community-requested initiatives including a five-year grant funding for Grays Ferry nonprofits, financial contribution to the D. Finnegan Recreation Center, health education workshops, support for local employment, alternate parking options for Titan Street neighbors , and exploration of expanded pediatric clinical services in Grays Ferry. We take all concerns from residents incredibly seriously as we look to support CHOP’s growing patient and staff needs.” Now, residents and businesses in the area are being told to expect disruptions for some time, with no timetable available for when it will be safe to reopen the area. “It will take as long as it has to take because the public health and safety of the immediate residents in this community, and all of Philadelphia is our number one priority,” Parker said. “We are under strict guidance by the structural engineers who are working in partnership with our emergency management officials to ensure that we do everything that we can in this moment to make public health and safety our number one priority.” Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker told city residents that if you need help during this challenging time, please call the Department of Behavioral Health at 988. The agencies on the ground include OSHA, Philadelphia’s fire and police departments, as well as Licenses and Inspections. But the Philadelphia Fire Department is in control of the scene, Parker said. ...read more read less