LAFD: Koreatown Apartment Building Partially Collapses
KOREATOWN (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Fire Department on Sunday reported the partial collapse of a two-story apartment building in Koreatown.
The cause of the building malfunction was unclear.
The building is located in the 2900 block of W. 8th Street, officials said.
Eight units are reportedly affected by the incident, described by Katherine Main of the LAFD as "the collapse of exterior stucco affecting eight units."
Main said the eight units house approximately 30 occupants, mostly children.
Officials thought the collapse -- that happened around 8 p.m. -- would lead to the displacement of all the people in those units but late Sunday a building inspector said the structure was sound and allowed tenants to go back to their apartments.
CBS2's Laurie Perez spoke to residents who were concerned but understood the issue was more cosmetic than structural.
"I was walking up the stairs and I heard this loud noise," said Fernando Crisotomo, "and it looked like the whole roof was falling. I turned back and I thought, 'they're going to blame me.' I guess the building is just old."
Perez said the building managers don't know what led to the overhang to collapse but that they would start to fix the problem first thing Monday morning.
