Tall & Urban News

A building under construction partially collapsed in west Houston, resulting in at least three people killed, fire officials said Monday, 5 October, 2020. 

According to Houston Fire Department, the partial collapse is in the area of Town & Country Boulevard near the I-10 Katy Freeway.

The incident was first reported just after 1:30 p.m.

Initial information from HFD indicated injuries from the incident, but Assistant Fire Chief Ruy Lozano said there were fatalities.

According to Lozano, one other person was rescued and taken to the hospital. The collapse appeared to involve newly constructed stairs, starting at the 13th or 14th floor of the 15-story building.

Lozano said the building was too unstable for them to go inside.

Still, according to Lozano, 240 construction workers were on the site at the time of the collapse. All workers have been accounted for.

The building is under construction is for Houston-based Marathon Oil's new headquarters, according to the company's website.

A company spokesperson offered a statement in the wake of the incident:

"We are saddened to learn that an accident occurred at the construction site for the future Houston headquarters of Marathon Oil. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those contractors who were affected and thank the first responders. We have offered our assistance to the building contractors as they respond to this accident."

ABC13 also learned that Harvey Builders were hired to take on the project, with subcontractor East Texas Precast and development manager Hines as part of it. A company spokesperson also gave a statement after the collapse.

"Harvey Builders is working with the Houston Fire Department, our subcontractor East Texas Precast, and Hines, the project's development manager, to investigate a fatal accident involving the collapse of a stairway on the construction site of the future Houston headquarters of Marathon Oil. Construction is an inherently dangerous activity and in recognition of this Harvey and its subcontractors observe very strict protocols on every project. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with each of the families involved during this difficult time."

The incident is near the CityCentre shopping district, which is not too far from the I-10/Beltway 8 interchange.

For more on this story, go to ABC.