Dozens injured when floor collapses during religious gathering at Katy-area home

KHOU

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – At least two dozen people were injured when a second-floor garage apartment collapsed during a religious gathering at a home west of Houston.

The West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department and Houston firefighters responded to Park Mill at Park Rush shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday.

Houston Fire Department Captain Ruy Lozano said at least 100 people had gathered for a religious celebration when the incident occurred. The apartment’s flooring gave way and collapsed into the garage below.  

One person suffered a serious head wound and about 30 others were treated for various injuries.

“We don’t have an exact count on the injuries at this time,” said Lozano. “We’re going to triage those that need to be treated immediately and then transport them as quickly as possible. Those that have minor scrapes, we’ll just make sure they’re not hurt and then they can go home.”

The youngest patient was reportedly 8 years old, firefighters told KHOU 11 News.

Views from Air 11 showed several people being treated outside the home, which was evacuated. A few patients were loaded onto stretchers and taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The collapse was not visible from outside the garage, but one exterior wall showed signs of rippling or buckling.

Lozano said an investigation into the incident will begin once the medical response is over.

“…we’ll start looking at the investigative process and if there were any structural problems. We’ll probably bring in engineers to look it over.”

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Garage-apartment-collapses-at-Katy-area-home-264773291.html