Eight people have been rescued from a six-story Iowa apartment building after it partially collapsed Sunday, including one who was saved overnight, authorities said in an update Monday.
Officials have not reported any deaths and were continuing their search efforts after the building in downtown Davenport, which houses 84 apartments, went down before 5 p.m. local time.
“We’re getting conflicting information, but we do not have any credible information at this time of anyone missing,” Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten told reporters at a news conference Monday morning.
The person rescued overnight was hospitalized, said the fire chief, who did not identify the victims. Seven others were rescued Sunday evening.
Emergency responders, including multiple specialized K-9 dogs, worked through the night to search the building.
“We are currently finishing the rescue phase of our operation and soon it will become a recovery operation,” Carlsten said.
“The building is structurally unsound, is posing a risk to responders, and we are actively working for the best course of action for the building. We have a continued concern for the stability of the building.”
Authorities haven’t determined what caused the building to collapse. The building had received complaints regarding its structure, and its owner hired an engineering firm to direct any repairs, officials said.
Responders found a “large natural gas leak” that resulted from the collapse, Carlsten said.
Davenport Mayor Mike Matson praised the emergency officials as “the heroes of the day” and said they saved lives with their response.
“My heart and certainly the community’s heart goes out to those who have been impacted by the unimaginable tragedy that we saw yesterday,” Matson said. “The community’s here to support them in any way we can.”
Sunday’s incident occurred nearly two years after a Miami-area condominium collapsed in June 2021, killing 98 people.