Search halted in US building collapse; 6 dead

PHILADELPHIA — The search for survivors of a U.S. building collapse that killed six neared an end Thursday, several hours after a woman was found alive in the rubble. No one else was thought to be inside.

A building under demolition in one of the country's largest cities, Philadelphia, collapsed onto a neighboring thrift store Wednesday, injuring at least 14 people.

The 61-year-old woman who was pulled from the debris early Thursday, nearly 13 hours later, was hospitalized in critical condition.

Battalion fire chief Charles Lupre said there were no reports of anyone missing.

It was unclear what role the demolition work might have played in the collapse, but the accident raised questions about how closely the location on one of the city's signature boulevards was being monitored, particularly amid word of the demolition contractor's many legal and financial troubles.

For weeks, people working nearby had watched with growing concern as a crew took down the vacant four-story building at the edge of downtown.

A roofer atop another building didn't think the operation looked safe. A pair of window washers across the street spotted an unbraced section of wall and predicted among themselves the whole building would simply fall.

On Wednesday, the building's unstable shell collapsed into a massive heap of bricks and splintered wood, taking part of the thrift store with it.

Officials said the demolition contractor was Griffin Campbell Construction. Records show that Campbell was charged in 2005 with dealing crack cocaine near a playground. The charges were dismissed after prosecutors misplaced evidence.

Campbell pleaded guilty in an insurance fraud case in 2009 and was acquitted of aggravated assault and related offenses in 2007. Campbell has also filed for bankruptcy protection twice since 2010.

Messages left for Campbell were not returned.

There were no existing violations on the collapsed building, and Campbell had proper permits for the work being done, according to Carlton Williams, of the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections.