Empire Towers in Glen Burnie Declared Unsafe After Evacuations

The Empire Towers building, once the tallest in Anne Arundel County, has been declared structurally unsound by local fire officials. This announcement followed an incident on Thursday when maintenance workers in the parking garage observed signs of a potential collapse from the floor above.

Approximately 100 individuals were evacuated from the building on Thursday evening after the fire department was alerted. A structural engineer's assessment subsequently determined that the entire 10-story structure, including its subsurface parking area, was unsafe for occupancy.

Inspections to further evaluate the building's condition are now being conducted by the Anne Arundel Department of Inspection and Permits along with the county executive’s office. As of now, there have been no reported injuries related to the situation, according to a social media update from the fire department.

In response to the emergency, Crain Highway was closed between Eighth Avenue and Georgia Avenue, as crews worked at the scene throughout the evening.

Empire Towers houses several businesses, including an American Red Cross blood donation center. Updates regarding the building's status will be provided as more information becomes available.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).