New Orleans Hotel Partially Collapses, 1 Dead, 18 Injured

NEW ORLEANS — A hotel partially collapses Saturday morning in New Orleans. One person is dead and at least 19 others injured. Rescue missions are underway for three people still missing

Parts of the Hard Rock Hotel, which is under construction, crashed on to Canal Street. While Hard Rock will manage the hotel when it opens, they released a statement Saturday saying that they are not yet involved.

"Hard Rock has had no involvement in the construction of the project," they said. "We want to extend our deepest sympathies to victims of this tragic accident and to their loved ones and friends."

Patch has not yet heard from the companies – Citadel Builders and Kailas Companies – named by Hard Rock as being involved.

Several fire, police, and other emergency workers immediately responded. Their attempts to get inside were hampered by the fact that the the building is still considered unstable.

The top eight floors had been badly damaged.

Officials say that more than 40 people were believed to have been in the building when the partial collapse happened. About one one hour later, officials said that one person had died, one had refused medical attention, and 18 others were taken to hospitals.

The hotel is scheduled to open next spring with 350 rooms for guests and another 60 units that will be sold.

Officials said that they don't want to speculate about what caused the collapse. They are going through records to make sure that the building was in compliance with city and safety codes and that inspections had been by the book.