Demolition continues at collapsed Grays Ferry parking garage as officials stress safety and patience

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

Crews spent Saturday using a wrecking ball to tear down unstable sections of a partially collapsed parking garage in Grays Ferry, continuing what officials described as a slow, highly controlled demolition process following a deadly structural failure earlier in the week.

About 200 workers were on site throughout the day before operations paused for the evening. Work is expected to resume Sunday morning.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the methodical pace is intentional. “This is a highly controlled and deliberate demolition process. It is designed to prevent any further instability in the structure and we want to ensure safely,” she said.

Managing Director Adam Thiel emphasized that there is no timeline for when the demolition will be complete. “When are we going to be done? We do not know, and we are not going to know. Safety will remain the primary consideration during this entire operation,” he said.

The collapse on Wednesday killed three members of Ironworkers Local 401: Stepan Shevchuk, Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr. A GoFundMe created to help cover funeral expenses for Shevchuk described him as “a hardworking and cheerful 26-year-old” who immigrated from Ukraine 11 years ago. Kane’s family told Action News he was a “proud Philadelphian,” a passionate sports fan, and an “extraordinary father” to two children. Scott’s family declined to comment.

Officials said recovery teams will enter the site once engineers determine it is safe enough to do so, with the goal of locating and removing the bodies of the two victims still trapped beneath the debris. Thiel said crews will eventually be “hand digging through that rubble to recover these missing Ironworkers,” noting the structure remains extremely unstable. “There are literally pieces of the structure that are hanging off it and could fall at any time,” he said.

Because of the ongoing danger, the surrounding shopping center and nearby roads remain closed to the public.

City Solicitor Renee Garcia acknowledged the public’s desire for answers about what caused the collapse but urged patience as the investigation proceeds. “We will leave no stone unturned. We will hold those who made mistakes or did something purposeful accountable. You can be assured of that. But it will be slow,” she said.

Crews are expected to continue demolition work at the site on Sunday.