A homeowner describes the damage to her home after the underground parking structure collapsed under the weight of dirt and lava rocks. Reggie Kumar reports for the NBC4 News at Noon on Friday July 25, 2014.
At least two homes were evacuated and five vehicles were damaged Friday morning at a Century City housing complex after a collapse involving an underground parking structure in a construction area.
Fire-rescue personnel responded to the report in the 10000 block of West Galaxy Way. The partial collapse occurred when soil was moved by small excavators from one area of the site to atop a parking structure at the Century Hill townhome complex.
The weight of the dirt and lava rocks caused the partial collapse, according to fire officials.
No injuries were reported. A search-rescue dog combed the site for any possibly injured people.
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Aerial video showed damage to the parking structure roof and what appeared to be a patio or balcony of one of the housing units.
"Huge planters of lemon trees and stuff, they all shifted over," a resident told NBC4. "There was a complete crack. The patio detached from the wall."
Three residential buildings were evacuated.
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The units have been yellow-tagged until Monday, when a Building and Safety Department engineering safety plan is completed. Officials said they have reached out the Red Cross to assist in finding shelter the evacuated residents.
Those residents may enter the buildings for a brief time with an escort, but cannot stay overnight, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Five vehicles in the parking structure were damaged. A fire sprinkler pipe was severed when the structure collapsed, leaving water in the parking area.
Earlier reports indicated the collapse was caused by a large planter that dropped from a construction crane, but fire officials later revised the cause.
