Worker still missing nearly 2 days later; microburst destroys Phoenix warehouse roof
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The search for a missing warehouse employee in west Phoenix enters its third night as rescue teams continue to comb through the rubble of what remains of the building’s roof that collapsed Wednesday night, potentially trapping the worker.
Phoenix Fire believes that the cause of the collapse was a microburst associated with the monsoon thunderstorms that hit much of the West Valley on Wednesday.
What remains of the building at 43rd Avenue and Van Buren Street is at risk of further collapse, making it challenging for rescue crews to enter. Rescuers are using specially trained K-9s, drones, and even heavy-duty cranes to safely move the rubble without risking further collapse.
The National Weather Service confirmed a microburst hit the area with winds up to 77mph at the time of the collapse. The building’s roof was partially ripped off during the storm.
Keller says Phoenix Fire has been in contact with the building’s manager, owner, and fellow employees to determine where the missing worker may have been at the time of the collapse.
“They have given us spots or locations where they think. We’ve had our urban search and rescue dogs go to those points, but we haven’t had any hits,” Keller said. “We will be out here as long as it takes. We are working with structural engineers and our partners to get heavy specialized equipment in here to remove this and make it safe for our firefighters to go in and search this building.”
Community assistance teams from Phoenix Fire are with the worker’s family as the search continues.
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