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Roof Collapse in Ocean Township
A partial roof collapse at a BJ's Wholesale Club in Ocean Township, New Jersey, occurred around 11 a.m. Monday on Route 35 amid heavy rain and major flooding in the area.
Officials said 27 people were inside the building at the time, and two of them were partially trapped but were able to free themselves and get out safely.
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office asked people to stay away from the area and said it was extremely dangerous to travel, while police urged residents to avoid Route 35, Park Avenue, and Deal Road, particularly between Routes 18 and 35.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said, "This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions," as first responders worked under challenging circumstances.
Search Effort and Entrapment
Authorities said the roof collapse temporarily entrapped two people, who were able to safely escape, and they reported no injuries following the incident at the big-box store in Ocean Township.
ABC News said multiple agencies responded to the store around 11:16 a.m. ET, and it described a "comprehensive search" that included a drone and K-9 teams to ensure no one remained inside.
ABC7 New York reported officials estimated 20% of the building collapsed, and it said the roof collapsed under the weight of the excessive rain and sent water and debris pouring into the store.
Ocean Township Police Chief Michael Sorrentino said, "We did evacuate everyone out of the building," and he added that there were reports of two individuals trapped who "did escape the building."
Flood Watch and Ongoing Risk
The collapse was tied to heavy rain and "extreme flooding," with the sheriff's office saying up to six inches of rain was reported in the area over the past 24 hours, with most of the rain falling since early Monday morning.
“OCEAN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WABC) -- No injuries were reported after a roof partially collapsed at a BJ's Wholesale Club in Monmouth County on Monday morning”
A flood watch remained in effect until 8 p.m. ET Monday in Monmouth County, according to the National Weather Service, as officials continued to urge people to avoid the area.
ABC7 New York said Golden urged residents to stay off the roads if at all possible, while the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office asked people to avoid Route 35, Park Avenue, and Deal Road until further notice.
In Ocean Township, the chief of police said the building would need a full inspection from a structural engineer to decide whether it needed to be torn down or repaired, after the roof gave way and water poured into the store.
