The City of Philadelphia is continuing to provide information and updates to the public about the April 8, 2026, collapse of a seven-story parking garage that was under construction for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at 30th and Grays Ferry Avenue. Tragically, one worker was pronounced deceased on the day of the collapse, and early Monday morning, April 13, following four days of controlled demolition, recovery, and emergency response operations, the two additional Ironworkers were located and, with dignity and respect, recovered by members of the Fire Department’s Special Operations Command.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker notified the families of the two deceased prior to notifying the public at a morning briefing. The names of the individuals have not been released by the City; all three men are members of Philadelphia’s Iron Workers Union Local 401.

Mayor Parker asks the community to please keep the families of these workers in your prayers and has directed that all flags across Philadelphia be lowered to half-staff in honor of the Ironworkers we have lost in the South Philadelphia garage collapse.

Operations updates

  • As of Monday morning, April 13, 2026, demolition, recovery, and emergency response operations at the site of the Grays Ferry CHOP garage collapse have entered a new stage.
  • Following controlled demolition operations, recovery operations began at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, and the two Ironworkers were located and recovered in the early hours of Monday by members of the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Special Operations Command. Official identification of the Ironworkers will be made by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Medical Examiner’s Office, pending standard protocols.
  • In addition, Mayor Parker signed an executive order today directing the City Solicitor and Law Department to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the building collapse and to recommend reforms in how city agencies inspect, monitor, and license construction projects.
  • PFD has utilized local and regional assets to assist in the search; this includes robots, drones, live detection canines, and human remains detection dogs.
  • The Office of Emergency Management maintains a presence on site to coordinate the response, fill unmet needs of residents and businesses, host interagency meetings, and develop public information and messaging. Follow the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on X, Facebook, or WhatsAPP for developments.
  • The process of recovery and controlled demolition of the collapsed structure began Friday, April 10. Crews have worked around the clock to stabilize the site, reinforce crane operations, secure utilities, and protect underground infrastructure ahead of demolition. Watch Mayor Parker and city officials describe the process.
  • The site’s general contractor, HSC Builders and Construction Managers, has prepared the site for the next phase of operations as they receive equipment to support operations.
  • OSHA is leading the investigation to determine exactly what happened. Strong intergovernmental collaboration with PEMA, the PA Dept. Of Environmental Protection, the PA Department of Labor & Industry, and Philadelphia Gas Works.
  • Philadelphia Gas Works crews remain onsite, taking intermittent readings during demolition. There have been no abnormal readings. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, call PGW’s 24-hour gas emergency hotline at (215) 235-1212.
  • Houses adjacent to the perimeter of the emergency site can be inspected by L&I during a pre-demolition survey. Please call (215) 686-8686 and leave your name, property address, and phone number.
  • The Department of Licenses and Inspections- Inspections, Safety and Compliance (L&I ISC) and the site construction contractor canvassed the target residential areas prior to demolition:
    • 1200 block of S 29th St (between Grays Ferry Ave & Wharton St)
    • 1200 block of S 31st St (between Grays Ferry Ave & Wharton St)
    • 2900 and 3000 blocks of Wharton St (between 29th St & 31st St)
    • Grays Ferry Ave between 29th St & 31st St
  • City L&I Inspectors and the Neighborhood Community Action Centers have canvassed the neighborhood and visited the homes immediately next to the emergency site.

Community and traffic updates

  • Traffic remains rerouted from the scene since the site is an active and dangerous emergency operation, and the shopping center remains closed to the community until it is safe to allow people into the parking lot area.
  • The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce Mayor’s Business Action Team continues to be on site and can be contacted with any questions at 215-683-2100 or business@phila.gov.  The City is offering an Emergency Grant program to businesses that are unable to open due to the Grays Ferry parking garage collapse. 
  • The Department of Commerce funds and partners with The Merchants Fund on the emergency grant program to support businesses facing hardship due to qualifying events (such as fire, natural disasters, extreme acts of physical vandalism, utility failures, or business disruptions due to public works). 
  • While the USPS Schuylkill Station Post Office located in the Grays Ferry Shopping Center is closed due to the structure collapse response, all mail service, including Post Office Box deliveries and package pickup, will be available at the USPS Paschall Station located at 7300 Lindbergh Boulevard near the airport.

Street closures and detours

As of April 16, one lane in the Eastbound direction on Grays Ferry Ave has reopened in the area of the collapse site. You can now travel the Grays Ferry Avenue corridor Eastbound towards Center City and Westbound towards I-76. There is a lane restriction in the Eastbound lanes as debris removal continues. Use caution traveling.

With the reopening of Grays Ferry Avenue, Philly311 will return to normal call contact service hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can always submit a service request online 24/7 at phila.gov/311.

Grays Ferry Shopping Center stores and parking lot are open and can be accessed via 29th Street. Please check with businesses before visiting as their hours may be modified as they reopen.

Riders navigating the Grays Ferry Avenue area during closures can use SEPTA’s official Alerts & Advisories page to find specific bus detours, which often involve rerouting along 29th Street, Reed Street, and 33rd Street. To navigate service impacts:  

Updates will be provided as they become available. 

Where the community can get information

With the reopening of Grays Ferry Avenue, Philly311 will return to normal call contact service hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. You can always submit a service request online 24/7 at phila.gov/311.

The Philadelphia Police Department’s Office of Community Advocacy and Engagement (CAE) is on-site and available by phone if residents need to be connected to community resources or need counseling. Residents can contact the CAE team at (215) 686-0061. 

If anyone who lives in the immediate neighborhood needs trauma care, please call DBHIDS at 988. 

A community meeting was hosted by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and other city, state and union leaders on Saturday, April 11, 20206 at Vare Recreation Center in Grays Ferry to update residents on the progress at the site and next steps, as well as providing information about resources available.  

  • Answers to some of the community’s questions include: 
  • The City’s L&I and the Neighborhood Community Action Center (NCAC) teams will expand their outreach in the community to ensure more residents can get specific answers to their questions and concerns.  To connect with someone at the NCAC in the Grays Ferry area, Dixon House at 1920 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19145 or call 215-686-2191.  
  • Houses adjacent to the perimeter of the emergency site can have an inspection by L&I. Contact: (215) 686-8686 and leave name, property address, and phone #. 
  • The City has added updated information to the 311-call center so residents can receive more answers to questions and request assistance. 

Noise and air quality information during demolition

The Philadelphia Health Department has been on-site, monitoring the air quality surrounding the garage, in addition to the two nearest BreathePhilly monitors. Breathe Philly provides accurate, hourly air quality measurements at 76 monitors in every neighborhood. Residents can also register to be notified of air quality changes at any monitor. 

There have been no recorded spikes in pollution so far. Health Department staff will continue to assist with recovery efforts and make sure that the air in the vicinity of the garage remains safe.  

You can check the air quality in your community, including in Grays Ferry, by visiting BreathePhilly. On that site, you can set up notifications for monitors in your community that will alert you about worsening air quality.   

Call the Air Management Complaint line at (215) 685-7580 or email dphams_service_requests@phila.gov. 

Follow the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on X, Facebook, or WhatsAPP for developments.