Portion of Midtown parking deck collapses

About 55 Atlanta firefighters are combing a Midtown parking garage for trapped victims after part of the concrete structure collapsed Monday afternoon.

The Centergy Parking garage, located at Abercrombie Place and Spring Street, collapsed from the fourth floor down, officials said. The garage houses cars for several businesses, including L.A Fitness, RBC Bank and Georgia Tech.

Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Bobby Stewart said the middle section of the fourth floor collapsed to the first floor, damaging numerous vehicles.

As of 1 p.m., firefighters have reported no injuries and found no one trapped inside. However, they are checking every vehicle in the six-story parking garage. The overall structure is intact, as is the entrance to the deck where parking attendants work.

Firefighters are working to shore up the structure to make sure its safe for the search and rescue teams, he said.

"It's very heavy concrete. There are a lot of cars that are entangled and broken up," Stewart said.

He did not have a count for the number of damaged vehicles, but said no one is allowed inside until the search is complete.

Firefighters are rotating shifts because of the heat, which is above 90 degrees, Stewart said.

Officials have made contact with Centergy and L.A. Fitness to make sure each employee and gym member is accounted for.

Georgia Tech spokesman Matt Nagel said they're checking on all employees.

"At this time, it appears like there are no injuries... We haven't been notified of any at this point."

Shaun Dodson was sitting in his truck on the third floor of the parking deck eating lunch when he heard a loud noise.

"The whole deck started shaking and I just ran out."

He was not injured, he said, but doesn't know about his truck.

Tricia Baker was on her lunch break when her boss called and asked if she was heading to her car. She parked her BMW on the 4th floor of the deck, near the middle, she said.

"I'm so glad I wasn't inside my car and that I'm OK," she said.

Anita Bass, who works in the adjacent building at Interface Flor, said she didn't hear the collapse around the corner from her store, but was alerted by emergency crews flooding the area.