HOUSTON --
One person was killed and two others were injured when a building under construction in southeast Houston collapsed Tuesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
For Jorge Cosme, Tuesday was anything but a typical day at work.
"When I turned around I saw the building coming down," said Cosme. "Today was my first day."
On his first day with the contractors Camden Building Inc., an entire building on the construction site off the Gulf Freeway near Griggs Road came down in seconds.
When firefighters got there, they initially heard five people were inside. They later determined three were trapped and the search began.
Two men were found alive on the first floor. They were in what's called "void spaces" -- empty areas within the rubble. Getting to them was not easy.
"We had to remove large sections of roof and cut through concrete," Rescue Chief Richard Cole said.
Crews used a search camera and found a third man under the debris. He was not moving, officials said.
"When we were able to get to him, he was already dead," said Cole.
The building was an existing one, being rehabbed to use as low-income apartments. Construction started last December and included a total of six buildings.
"We treat everyone as family," said Steve Hefner, Senior Vice President of Camden Builders Inc. "It's a sad day for us."
He said there had not been any problems before with that building, or any other on the property.
"It seemed like everything was normal," he said.
But something went horribly wrong. Cole said the men were working on replacing some of the building's supports.
"The lateral bracing that ties everything together was not enough, and the building just laid down," said Cole. "OSHA will determine a cause."
There are many questions as to how this could have happened.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to them," said Hefner. "We're awful concerned about the tragedy."
Houston police are leading the investigation. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration and other agencies will begin investigating Wednesday.
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