CINCINNATI — Cincinnati fire officials said crews are focusing on the "recovery issue" Tuesday morning as emergency personnel searches the rubble of a partially-collapsed building downtown for a missing person.
Four people were pulled from the debris Monday afternoon, and all were treated and released from area hospitals. However, a fifth person is still missing.
Fire Chief Roy Winston said they feel they need to bring in heavier equipment to help in the search. Initially, jackhammers and smaller hand tools were being used so they didn't create more debris.
Crews are searching an area estimated to be about 200-feet by 40-feet, so K9 units are being brought in to help narrow down the search area.
Turner Construction will also bring in additional workers to help offload some of the concrete from the worksite.
Fire crews have been working for over 19 hours at the scene, which started as a search and rescue but changed Monday around 7:45 p.m. local time to a recovery effort, according to an email sent from City Manager Patrick Duhaney to members of City Council.
"It goes without saying that this is a horrible tragedy," Duhaney wrote in the email. "Our thoughts are with the family of all those affected, particularly the individual who has not yet been found. We are all praying for a miracle."
This story was originally published by WCPO in Cincinnati.
