**Urgent Search and Rescue Underway in Davenport, Iowa: Apartment Building Partially Collapses, Residents in Danger**
In the downtown of Davenport, Iowa, authorities are working tirelessly in a search and rescue mission after a six-story apartment building partially collapsed on Sunday, leaving residents in potential danger and causing alarm among the local community.
On Sunday afternoon, at 4:55 pm, both the Davenport Fire Department and Davenport Police Department reported to the scene of the disaster at 324 Main Street. Upon arrival, emergency responders quickly discovered not only the disarray caused by the collapse but a significant leakage of natural gas and water coming from every floor. As of now, there’s no information regarding any casualties or the total number of individuals who may be missing or trapped.
Mayor Mike Matson has stated that there’ve been people reported as unaccounted for, and the top priority remains focused on rescue efforts. So far, Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten has shared that seven people are saved from the building, while more than a dozen others have evacuated themselves, thanks to the help of responders. It remains unknown how many people suffered injuries on the scene.
Friends and family members of the building’s residents anxiously await further news on the status of their loved ones. Antoine Rabbit Smith, for example, is frantically searching for two friends he knows were in the building when the incident occurred – one of whom is like family to him.
While there is no definitive answer to what caused the collapse, permit reports have indicated that the owner of the building was in the process of conducting repair work to its exterior. The falling bricks reported earlier in the week were seemingly attributed to this ongoing work. The search and rescue operations will continue into the night, with crews entering the building for secondary searches and debris pile rescue efforts.
Officials are asking that the public avoid the downtown area as operations are carried out. In the meantime, Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church on 417 N. Main St. is serving as a point of reunification for those affected by this unfortunate event.
**Authorities Are Racing Against Time: Every Moment Counts in Search and Rescue of Collapsed Apartment Building**
