Heavy rainfall that hit New Jersey on Monday caused the partial collapse of the roof of a large department store while 27 people were inside the building.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:16 a.m. at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township. Police officers, personnel from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and emergency crews rushed to the scene.
According to authorities, when the roof collapsed, two people were partially trapped under the debris; however, they managed to free themselves and safely exit the building.
“This incident is yet another reminder of how quickly extreme weather events can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” said Sheriff Sean Golden. He praised the immediate response of the rescue teams, noting that, despite the flooding and difficult conditions in the area, the agencies worked together effectively to ensure that everyone inside the store was safe.
No injuries were reported as a result of the collapse. BJ’s Wholesale Club, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, had not immediately commented on the incident.
The severe weather caused serious problems across much of the northeastern United States, with more than 60 million people under flood warnings.