Two Dead in New Orleans Hotel Collapse

A second person has been confirmed dead in the partial collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, officials said late Saturday night.

The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said in a statement online around 11 p.m. that a second fatality had been confirmed, but did not identify the victim.

A third person is still missing, with the search expected to resume Sunday morning. Officials believe the person may still be in the building.

As soon as he or she is found, crews will begin recovery efforts for the two bodies.

The Hard Rock Hotel, which had been under construction for several months, collapsed in downtown New Orleans Saturday morning when the upper six to eight floors of the building crashed to the ground, according to New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Tim McConnell.

Eighteen people were hospitalized with various injuries. One victim, an employee working on the eighth floor, remains at the University Medical Center New Orleans but is stable and out of surgery, officials said Sunday morning.

“Today’s collapse was a tragedy, and our hearts break for the loss of life,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a statement. "Our focus is on continuing to secure the site and to doing everything we can to support the families impacted as rescue efforts continue.

It’s still unclear what caused the collapse, but officials warned that more damage is possible.

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