Two construction workers were sent to the hospital after they fell into the water following the collapse of Pier 58 in Seattle's Elliott Bay on Sunday. According to the city's fire and police departments, several other workers also fell into the water and had to be rescued after the collapse.
In a tweet on its official account, the Seattle Fire Department revealed that the two injured workers are currently in stable condition. After they were fished out of the water, they were immediately sent to the nearest hospital for treatment. The director of the Seattle Office of Waterfront and Civic Projects, Marshall Foster, mentioned during a press conference that the two injured workers were part of a 12-man crew that was sent to the pier for dismantling work.
Pier 58, which was built in 1974, was scheduled to be dismantled as it was deemed no longer fit for repair. The crew that was assigned to disassemble the pier, which is known locally as Waterfront Park, began their work last week, according to a press release from the Seattle Parks and Recreation department.
When the collapse happened, five out of the 12 people working on the dismantling project were standing on the pier. The two injured workers were actively using power saws and cutting parts of the pier when the collapse happened. All five workers fell into the water, with the other three suffering only minor injuries.
The Seattle Office of Waterfront and Civic Projects claimed that a monitoring system was installed last week when preliminary work on the dismantling project had started. The pier itself was already in a state of extreme decay, which continued as work continued over the weekend.
Pier 58 is just one of several tourist attractions located in Seattle's Elliot Bay area. It sits right beside popular destinations such as Pike Place Market and the Seattle Great Wheel. Parks authorities pointed out that the pier has taken quite a beating throughout its long life. The city previously installed a four-ton FitzGerald Fountain at the edge of the pier, which contributed to the further deterioration of the structure. Experts believe that the destructive marine environment and the massive unsupported weight may have contributed greatly to the sudden collapse over the weekend.
