Would-be rescuers spent a fourth day searching through the unstable wreckage of a collapsed New Orleans building amid diminishing hopes a man missing in the rubble will be found alive. Meanwhile, experts mulled how to stabilize and remove what's left of the uncompleted hotel building and two giant construction cranes in danger of toppling.
Two people died in Saturday morning's partial collapse of what was to be an 18-story Hard Rock Hotel at the edge of the French Quarter on Canal Street. One body has been recovered. Another body is known to be in the wreckage. And authorities held onto a dimming hope Tuesday for a possible rescue of the one missing worker.
"Obviously, we're hoping for the best," Fire Chief Tim McConnell told reporters. "But you know as this thing drags on, the chances of that diminish."
The situation could take weeks to resolve. Experts from around the world were called in to help, including crane manufacturers and engineers and the Thornton Tomasetti engineering and consulting firm that aided in the cleanup and recovery at Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The prolonged danger of further collapse means the indefinite closure of two major thoroughfares — Canal Street and the intersecting Rampart Street — along with streetcar lines and bus routes adjacent to the French Quarter and business district.
The disaster is the latest setback in efforts to revive a section of historic Canal Street that had been economically moribund despite its proximity to the Quarter.
The Hard Rock Hotel was expected to be a major boost to that revitalization.
Now, because of the danger of further collapse, commerce around the site has come crashing to a halt of uncertain duration.
Among the casualties in the danger zone was the Saenger Theatre on Canal, a 1927 movie and live performance palace restored to its flapper-era glory in 2013, eight years after it was badly flooded because of levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. Touring versions of Broadway hits have been a success at the Saenger but performances of "Wicked" that were supposed to run through this week were canceled and the future of other productions is unclear.
Also closed was the tony New Orleans Athletic Club, constructed on Rampart in the 1920s, and boasting a celebrity guest list that over the years has included Tennessee Williams, Johnny Weismuller and Govs. Huey and Earl Long. The facility told members via its website and emails that it had arranged for other fitness centers to accommodate their workouts during the closure.
ATLANTA (AP) — The game between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves on Saturday night was postponed by rain and lightning.
The teams will play a split doubleheader on Monday with a 6:20 p.m. game added to the previously scheduled 12:20 p.m. game.
Officials announced about five minutes before the scheduled first pitch that the start of the game was being delayed by inclement weather in the area.
The four-game series will continue on Sunday night.
Right-hander Yu Darvish had been scheduled to start for San Diego on Saturday night, but has been pushed back to Sunday.
The Padres planned to reinstate right-hander Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) from the 15-day injured list for Sunday's game. Instead, Musgrove's return apparently will be pushed back to the Padres' series at Cincinnati, which begins on Tuesday.
The Padres will have right-hander Dylan Cease and right-hander Randy Vásquez start Monday's games.
The Braves have shifted Saturday night’s planned starter, right-hander Bryce Elder, to Sunday night.
Atlanta plans to have right-hander Reynaldo López and left-hander Chris Sale start Monday's games. López was pushed back one day after originally being listed as Sunday night's starter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RHP Pierce Johnson (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the injured list. RHP Jackson Stephens was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. ... C Travis d'Arnaud (head contusion) was available in an emergency situation if Saturday night's game had been played. Manager Brian Snitker says he hopes to rest d'Arnaud again Sunday. ... 3B Austin Riley (left side inflammation) was to miss his fifth straight game but said, “I feel like I'm slowly but surely getting there. ... I'm still feeling it in certain areas with certain movements.” Riley still hasn't taken batting practice.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
A fan moves in Truist Park after baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The rain cover is seen at Truist Park after a baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A fan dances in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Ground crew watch weather radar before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Fans dance in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A ground crew member covers the mound before baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
