One death reported after roof collapse at Amazon warehouse in southern Illinois – WPSD Local 6
In Edwardsville, Illinois, outside St. Louis, there were multiple injuries and at least one death after a 100-foot portion of a wall partially collapsed at an Amazon facility, officials with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Edwardsville Fire Department said.
“More than one” person died at the scene, Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback told a news conference early Saturday.
Herb Simmons, the director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency who spoke to NBC News from the scene, said that his agency received a call for mutual aid at 8:59 p.m.
“We are in rescue mode at this time,” he said.
Simmons said the site of the partial collapse is on the Amazon complex, but did not know which building it was, nor how many people were believed to be trapped inside.
He added that it was going to be a “long process” to determine exactly what had happened.
Calling it a “devastating tragedy,” Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said the company offered its “thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted.”
“Our focus is on supporting our employees and partners,” he added.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center as a result of the severe weather. There have been multiple, unconfirmed reports of tornadoes, the emergency management agency said.
Currently in Paducah