Houston Marathon Oil Building Collapse Kills 3, Injures 1

A building collapse in west Houston has killed three people and has left another injured. According to the Houston Fire Department, a technical rescue team is currently responding to the scene. While they’re searching for additional victims, they believe that everyone who was inside the building has been accounted for.

While the construction accident was reported at approximately 1:30 p.m., exactly who was injured and killed has not yet been revealed. Officials confirmed that the injured person was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

@HoustonFire Dept. Technical Rescue Team is actively responding to a #buildingcollapse in West Houston. Three confirmed fatalities, one victim transported to nearby hospital in stable condition. HFD asks for thought and prayers for the victims and their family. @FireChiefofHFD 

— Houston Fire Dept (@HoustonFire) October 5, 2020

Collapsed Building Is Location of New Marathon Oil Tower

The building, located in the 990 block of Town and Country Boulevard near the I-10 Katy Freeway, was under construction. The construction site appears to be the future location of Marathon Oil’s new headquarters. Marathon revealed plans to begin moving into the new building sometime in 2021.

Known as Project Thunder, the building was designed by Kendall/Heaton Associates Inc. and is being built by general contractor D.E. Harvey Builders.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Ruy Lozano, the accident appears to involve a newly constructed set of stairs. Loranzo also mentioned that the building was too unstable for fire crews to enter. A worker who was at the scene of the accident told reporters that it seems as though several floors of the stairwell collapsed.

“Out of nowhere, I hear a loud banging sound,” the worker said. “It sounded like a building was collapsing, which, I checked out, it didn’t happen, but all I saw was the parking building ... we’re very close to the parking building. All you see is a bunch of smoke.”

Footage at the location shows what appears to be sections of upper levels that have collapsed onto the first floor. Firefighters could be seen assessing the situation from outside the building, not far from the accident’s rubble.

Arnold & Itkin's Houston building collapse lawyers will continue to follow this story as officials release more details.