(UPDATE: July 13 @ 11:20 am) – The RCMP has confirmed that following the crane collapse on Monday in downtown Kelowna, four people are dead and another is believed to be dead.
Insp. Adam MacIntosh said three construction site workers died on the scene while another died in hospital from injuries.
The fifth person, believed to be dead by this point, was working in a nearby office building when the crane collapsed.
Unfortunately, the body remains buried in the rubble, as the site is currently not safe enough to be recovered.
“We believe that with the help of the engineers, we may be able to recover this person this afternoon,” said MacIntosh.
“Until we are able to secure this area and safely retrieve this person’s remains, this area will remain under a local emergency ordinance preventing anyone from going into this area.”
Once the area is secured, people are allowed to return home or collect their vehicles, but a local emergency ordinance prevents anyone from entering the area until then.
The RCMP is currently leading the investigation and assisting WorkSafeBC in gathering information, but the police will eventually turn the investigation over to WorkSafeBC in full.
MacIntosh also confirmed today that a person was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the accident but has since been released.
Photo credits: NowMedia “class =” img-responsive “src =” https://www.kamloopsbcnow.com/files/files/images/save.png “style =” margin: 5px; “/>
The Mission Group has set up a grief counseling service for those affected by the incident, and there has been ongoing communication with all staff members who are currently in shock. Nothing was discussed about other expenses such as hospital bills and funeral services.
“The deceased worked on the construction site and I can confirm that they were not members of the Mission Group. That doesn’t change the fact that today people have died because of their work, they lost their lives, “said Frisen.
None of the local workers were unionized.
“Our entire team, the employees of the Mission Group and all of our sideline jobs are in shock. That doesn’t happen on any construction site. The characterization could be absolutely tragic.” said Frisen.
Labor Secretary Harry Bains spoke about the tragedy on the construction site. “All workers have the right to a safe and healthy workplace – even one injury or one death are too many. This is a heartbreaking reminder that we must strive to keep all workers safe to prevent incidents like this, ”said Bains.
NowMedia will provide updates as soon as they are available.
(UPDATE: July 12th @ 3:20 pm) – Officials said today’s crane collapse in downtown Kelowna resulted in “multiple confirmed deaths”.
RCMP insp. Adam MacIntosh confirmed the reports at an afternoon media briefing, adding that one person was also missing.
The missing person is not part of the work team present on site today, but MacIntosh was unable to provide further details.
(UPDATE: July 12th at 2:10 pm) – An Emergency Services Center has been set up at the Salvation Army on Sutherland Avenue for anyone evacuated from downtown Kelowna.
In addition, families of injured or missing people can go to the Parkinson’s Recreation Center.
Evacuees from downtown @cityofkelowna can contact the Salvation Army at 1480 Sutherland Avenue for Emergency Support Services (ESS). Separately, families of injured or missing should go to the Parkinson Recreation Center (McIntosh Room) at 1700 Parkinson Way.
– Central Ok Emergency (@CO_Emerg) July 12, 2021
Mission Group, the developer behind Brooklyn Block, released a statement on the tragic incident this morning, calling it a “catastrophic failure”.
The statement confirmed what KelownaNow had previously reported that the crane crashed as crews began dismantling.
“We are currently unable to confirm the number and extent of the injuries,” the statement said.
“Mission Group expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy. We have established support services to help those in need.”
Kelowna General Hospital issued a “Code Orange” at 11:30 am in response to the accident, but it was discontinued at around 1:00 pm.
A media briefing is imminent and KelownaNow will provide additional updates as they become available.
(UPDATE: July 12th at 1:15 pm) – WorkSafeBC’s prevention and investigation teams are responding to the crane collapse in downtown Kelowna.
“The purpose of our investigation is to identify the cause of the incident, including any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future,” KelownaNow said in an email.
The agency is currently unable to provide any further details.
(UPDATE: July 12th at 12:50 pm) – Rescue workers continue to filter a construction site in downtown Kelowna where a crane collapsed just before 11 a.m. today.
KelownaNow has now confirmed that dismantling of the crane began this morning and that the tragic incident occurred.
A woman on the scene told our reporter Sarah Jones that she rushed to the scene after receiving a panicked call from her son who was working on the construction site.
A woman describes the desperate phone call from her son who was working on the construction site in downtown Kelowna where a crane collapsed this morning. pic.twitter.com/gNIu96ozpE
– KelownaNow (@KelownaNow) July 12, 2021
“He called me in desperation and said, ‘Mom, I’m fine but the crane just fell over,'” she explained.
He told her that people were hurt, but he didn’t know if anyone had been killed.
Early in the morning, the woman explained, her son had told her to say a prayer for him as it would be a very dangerous day while the crane was being dismantled on the construction site.
Kelowna General Hospital has declared a “Code Orange” as the emergency room prepares for an influx of patients due to the breakdown.
There have been widespread reports of two victims, but nothing has officially been confirmed.
(UPDATE: July 12th at 12:05 pm) – Electricity was restored to 2,500 customers in downtown Kelowna.
Photo credit: NowMedia “src =” https://www.kamloopsbcnow.com/files/files/images/crane2.jpg “style =” margin: 5px; “/>
There are reports of possible deaths and injuries, and witnesses have speculated that a person was in the crane at the time of the collapse, but there was no official word at the time.
The power supply has been cut for a large part of the inner city center and FortisBC reports that 2,500 customers are affected.
The area is being evacuated and people are asked to stay away at this time.
NowMedia has a reporter on site and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
(Original story: July 12 @ 11:20 am) – The area around Bernard Avenue and St. Paul Street in downtown Kelowna is currently being evacuated due to an industrial accident.
It happened just before 11 a.m. during the development of the Bernard Block.
The RCMP asks anyone in the immediate vicinity to please leave as soon as possible and stay away until further notice.
Sections of Bernard Avenue, St. Paul Street and Bertram Street have also been closed and motorists should avoid the area.
Several KelownaNow readers have also reported that power was cut to many downtown buildings as rescue workers responded to the incident.
NowMedia has a reporter driving to the crime scene and will update the story as more information becomes available.
