Roof of Broadway building collapses

Broadway between Fountain and Middle streets was closed Thursday afternoon after the roof of a vacant building collapsed.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department and numerous police officers responded to the collapse at 430 Broadway just before 1 p.m.

Property owner Jon Rust said the roof collapsed over the center of the old Rialto theater, possibly due to the heavy rain and wind earlier Thursday.

No one was in the building at the time, and no one was injured.

"It probably started to collect a lot of water and had been leaking for a period of time," battalion chief Fred Vincel said. Nearby offices, Old Town Cape, United Way and Horizon Screen Printing were evacuated while emergency crews inspected the area.

City engineer Kelly Green arrived on scene about 1:30 p.m. to evaluate the size of the collapse, and firefighters were assigned to determine if the walls were also compromised.

AmerenUE also responded to the scene to disconnect power in the building while crews investigated. Utilities to the adjoining buildings have been restored.

Vincel said the adjacent buildings were not compromised by the collapse. The only concern is a brick wall that goes along the alley; the wall will be evaluated by a new set of structural engineers today.

Broadway reopened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic just before 3 p.m. Thursday.

A parking lot west of the H&H Building will remain closed until after engineers look over the property today.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

430 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO