Yesterday, a church in New London, Connecticut suffered a major structural collapse, authorities have reported. The incident occurred at the historic First Congregational Church on Union Street, leading to the steeple and roof of the building tumbling down into a pile of debris. Emergency crews including the New London Fire Department were dispatched to the scene to assess the damage and conduct a search, with stunning photos revealing the extent of the collapse.
Citizens were urged by officials to stay clear of the surrounding area, including Union, Masonic, State, and Eugene O'Neill streets, as crews worked amidst the aftermath. As reported by Boston25News, it was not immediately clear if anyone was inside during the collapse or if there were any injuries sustained.
A search revealed that only one woman was within the building at the time of the incident. Mayor Michael Passero stated in a news briefing that she was escorted out safely and is believed to be the only individual present when the church came down. The mayor, interviewed by AP, considered the circumstances as "extremely fortunate," noting that no services were taking place and the building collapsed inward rather than onto the nearby streets or adjacent structures.
While the cause of the collapse remains undetermined, Passero highlighted there was no prior indication of structural issues with the church, and the city had no knowledge of any ongoing work at the property. It is uncertain whether the church, dating back to around 1850, has been recently inspected. "It could have been a much bigger disaster for us. However we did lose a cherished historic structure,” Passero told AP. Additional steps would involve the removal of two smaller steeples remaining on the precarious structure.
