chicago balcony collapse june deadliest porch collapse united_states history occurred chicago balcony collapsed party apartment building killing thirteen people seriously injuring seven ensuing investigation highly critical way balcony built finding large number errors construction ultimately resulted collapse building owner continues blame balcony complete structural failure taken steps strengthen properties prevent disaster accident resulted sweeping similar structures chicago cases city authorities background porch attached rear apartment building located lincoln park neighborhood city north second floors party venue time collapse party early knew days suburbs witness says warned people building unsafe later said looked like newly built looked collapse people wooden balcony time collapse according witness sound wood heard immediately collapse occurred shortly midnight local time collapse started floor pulling second floor collapsed basement carrying total approximately people people trapped basement survivors helped pull victims debris rescue workers use free survivors nurse started rescue effort emergency services arrived supplied main rescue effort people killed collapse subsequently dying hospitalized seven people injured investigation initial inquiries suggested collapse probably backed neighbors told authorities designed hold thirty people chicago fire chief said appears case people small space reyes city building commissioner said indication problems porch time buildings large assemblies parties ultimately determined poor construction blame permit issued owner install air water building build balcony balcony feet building foot permitted city codes area square feet square feet larger permitted balcony inadequate supports lengths wood attached walls screws short visited site times noticed cited code violations noted aftermath days disaster city sued owners managers building number building regulations named complaint included company president contractor built balcony city reportedly seeking violation day structure existence totaling hundreds thousands dollars court order replacement balcony apartment block legally replaced provided mandatory emergency exits city inspected buildings owned managed similar violations city claimed buildings owned similar problems note fact dramatic improvements aftermath disaster chicago inspected huge number similar structures ensure safe cases turned city court action cases referred administrative hearing officers continued blame disaster undercover press investigation discovered properties display notices forbidding parties claims police report says unnamed witnesses informed saw people jumping shortly prior collapse city chicago filed lawsuit survivors city alleged balcony collapse occurred defendants intentionally began jumping porch brother killed collapse charges later dropped criminal charges filed fined total result collapse seven families sued city accident balcony rebuilt time metal popular culture disaster inspired season finale television titled
2003 Chicago balcony collapse