Steel sheets fall; no one injured

ST. LOUIS -- Four large steel sheets fell from the 20-story Millennium Center in downtown St. Louis Monday, barely missing passers-by. No one was hurt.

Two of the panels fell from the 40-year-old building at around 11 a.m., according to stltoday.com, the Web site for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. About an hour later, two more panels fell.

Fire officials blocked off the intersection and diverted traffic away from about two city blocks.

The sheets, about 5 feet long and 2-3 feet wide, crashed to the sidewalk at the corner of Sixth and Olive in front of a Starbucks coffee shop. City and building officials decided to erect scaffolding and secure remaining panels.

The building was evacuated, and will remained closed until the work is finished, officials said. A structural engineer will determine if the building is safe.