One killed in partial building collapse in New York 30/10/2015

One killed in partial building collapse in New York NEW YORK (Reuters) - A building undergoing demolition work in New York partially collapsed on Friday, killing one person and trapping another in the rubble, authorities said. Approximately 65 firefighters responded to the collapse, which occurred about 10:30 a.m. in the rear of a multistory building on West 38th Street in midtown Manhattan, a fire department spokesman said. One person was believed to be trapped inside following the collapse, police said. The television station NY1 reported that rescuers had made contact with the person. The building was undergoing demolition work to convert it to the Aloft New York Midtown, a Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc hotel , expected to open in May 2018, according to the company's website. Fortuna Realty Group, the developer that owns the building, did not immediately comment on the incident. The owners of the New York City-based company performing the demolition work, Northeast Service Interiors, were at the site following the collapse, according to a company representative. Police closed the street near the building while crews work to sift through the debris.