Floor collapse at Florida apartment injures 55

USPA News - A floor collapsed at a crowded apartment building in northwest Florida on early Sunday morning, sending scores of people plummeting and injuring 55 of them, local authorities said on Monday. The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.

The accident happened at around 1:27 a.m. local time on Sunday when the floor of a second-floor apartment collapsed at the Seminole Grand Apartments in Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida, spilling dozens of people into a clubhouse and office below. It is believed more than 100 people were in the four-bedroom apartment. "Firefighters confirmed that no one was trapped within or underneath the collapsed floor," said Lt. Mike Bellamy, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Fire Department. "Seven occupants were rescued from a second story bedroom by use of a ladder truck after they were unable to use the stairwell due to the collapse." A mass casualty plan was put into action due to the large number of patients, but none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening. "Patients were transported to both area hospitals for further care," Bellamy said. "All responding agencies worked under a unified command to mitigate the incident safely and efficiently." The cause of the collapse, which caused approximately $250,000 in damage, is being investigated by city officials.