Rescue crews continue to search for a man trapped in a collapsed building in eastern Kentucky.
One man, Billy “Beau” Daniels, died and Alvin Nees remains trapped after a building collapsed as it was being prepared for demolition in Martin County.
First responders were dispatched Tuesday night at approximately 6:30 to an un-operational, 11-story coal sorting structure at Martin Mine Prep Plant that collapsed, according to Kentucky Emergency Management.
The building contained the two demolition workers. Daniels was discovered deceased Wednesday morning, Martin County Sheriff John Kirk told news outlets. The two men were on the bottom floor of the structure when it collapsed.
The plant, which has been closed for several years, had been salvaged for scrap, a process that took place over the last eight months.
Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday morning declared a state of emergency in Martin County in an effort to mobilize state resources to assist in the rescue efforts.
Some of the non-local agencies involved in the search for the trapped worker are Jefferson County Urban Search & Rescue, the Special Operations Unit from the Lexington Fire Department, the National Guard’s Special Tactics Squadron K-9 search dog, and the Northern Kentucky Technical Rescue Team.
(Photo: Aerial photo of collapsed coal preparation plant in Martin County, courtesy of WKYT.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
