Cincinnati casino collapses during construction (VIDEO)
A still shot from the scene at the Horseshoe Casino construction site which collapsed.
For the second time in as many months, an Ohio casino under construction has collapsed, this time in Cincinnati, the Associated Press reported today.
Fire Chief Richard Braun said workers were pouring a concrete floor at the Horseshoe Casino when a beam under them “sheared away,” he told the AP.
"The floor came down in what we call a 'V' collapse, and all the workers were on top of it," Braun said. "They basically rode the 'V' down."
There were no deaths in Cincinnati, but rescuers took at least 13 construction workers to hospital, some with serious injuries. Some reports said as many as 20 were treated either at the scene, or took themselves to hospital.
Last month, a Cleveland casino’s garage collapsed as workers poured concrete, a similar situation to what happened today in Cincinnati. Rock Gaming and Caesar’s Entertainment are overseeing both projects.
All of the workers on the scene have been accounted for, said Steve Rosenthal, a Rock City representative who is managing construction and design of the casino.
"A single bay of the facility collapsed as concrete was being poured," his prepared statement read, according to Reuters.
The $400-million Horseshoe Casino is expected to open next spring in Cincinnati. As part of statewide investments, four casinos are set to open in Ohio, with Columbus and Toledo also expecting new facilities. State Sen. Bill Seitz, a Republican from Cincinnait, rebuffed any theories that work is being rushed.
“I don’t think they’re knowingly or willfully sacrificing safety or quality for time,” he told AP.
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Here's video of the constuction site:
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