Vancouver’s Rooftop Parking Lot Converts into Office Space Below

Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Jan. 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Emergency teams are at the scene in Vancouver, where a roof parking lot collapsed and became office space. At least two people were taken to hospital.

Asst. Chief Dan Moberg from Vancouver Fire Rescue states that structural supports have been set up to allow crews to remove debris and search the structure for other fire fighters.

That step had to wait for engineers to assess the damage created when an area of about nine by 12 metres caved in around 1 p.m.

Moberg claims that construction, which involved drilling in a portion of the parking lot, was under way when it fell.

The incident closed Lougheed Highway, between Rupert Street & Boundary Road. This is a major traffic route.

Emergency Health Services reports that the patients were taken to the hospital. The service did not give any details about their conditions.

Moberg says about 30 firefighters attended the scene alongside police, while EHS said four paramedic ground units responded.

Vancouver Police refused to comment. They said it was an ongoing incident that involved multiple agencies responding. It will update when more information becomes available.

WorkSafeBC is the provincial worker’s safety agency. It has opened an investigation in order to determine the causes of the accident and any contributing factors.

By Amy Smart