World | USA
Major storm causes buildings to collapse in Atlanta
A severe storm including a possible tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta, injuring several people, causing at least two buildings to collapse and damaging skyscrapers, hotels and two major sports arenas filled with thousands of basketball fans.
- AP
- Published: 09:51 March 15, 2008
Atlanta: A severe storm including a possible tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta, USA, injuring several people, causing at least two buildings to collapse and damaging skyscrapers, hotels and two major sports arenas filled with thousands of basketball fans.
The National Weather Service said a possible tornado hit downtown on Friday night, where the wind sucked furniture and luggage from smashed hotel-room windows, stripped siding and signs from buildings and mangled street lights. The streets were littered with broken glass, stunned fans pouring from the areas and hotels.
Most of the damage was concentrated in downtown Atlanta, police spokesman Ronald Campbell said. He said authorities blocked off roads around the CNN Centre, where heavy debris filled the streets.
A firefighter outside the skyscraper said three people in the vicinity had been transported to hospitals, including a child with head injuries. He said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Buzz Weiss, a spokesman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, said nine people were taken to hospitals, including a firefighter. Grady Hospital, the city's large public hospital where eight of the injured were taken, had broken windows but was operating as usual.
Atlanta Fire Department Captain Bill May said the department was working "multiple incidents" from East Atlanta to downtown. He said part of a loft apartment building collapsed, but he did not know if there were any injuries.
May said a vacant building also collapsed, with no apparent injuries. He said seven to 10 people had been taken to the hospital.
On its website, CNN said its headquarters building sustained ceiling damage, allowing water to pour into the atrium, and windows shattered in the CNN.com newsroom and the company's library. It also said Centennial Olympic Park was severely damaged.
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