Updated Two Dead in Tel Aviv Parking Garage Collapse

By Andrew Friedman/TPS

An underground parking lot in the Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ramat HaChayal collapsed Monday, killing two people and injuring 24. Five construction workers are still missing.

Police spokespeople said that several floors of a parking structure collapsed, and warned that the collapse could destabilize the remaining floors of the building. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that 150 Home Front soldiers are participating in the rescue operation.

According to Tawfik Habshi, a Magen David Adom paramedic, 23 people have been evacuated to local hospitals, and rescue crews are still trying to make contact with between six and 10 individuals who are still missing.

The building site belongs to the Danya Cebus and Isael Africa companies. According to the Tel Aviv Municipality, construction began on the four-story parking garage, called Ahuzot Chof, in November 2014 and was scheduled for completion by early 2017, with an area of 17,000 square meters.

“MDA, IDF Home Front Command, the Tel Aviv Fire Department and Israel Police are continuing to secure the collapse site in order to locate the missing persons. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as of this time,” Habshi told TPS.

16:11 UPDATE: One trapped man has been located. Rescue crews are working to rescue him. In addition, a 250 ton crane and a sand vacuum truck are on site working to remove rubble.