Jaw-dropping footage shows moment hurricane-damaged Hertz Tower skyscraper implodes in Louisiana

The abandoned Hertz Tower, which became a symbol of the destruction brought by back-to-back hurricanes in Louisiana in 2020, was finally demolished on Saturday.

Demolition footage from Lake Charles shows the moment the dilapidated, 22-story skyscraper, formerly known as the Capital One Tower, comes crashing down on itself after workers set off a series of explosions inside.

The implosion sent a massive dirty cloud erupting in the air and spreading across the area that had become an eyesore after years of failed promises to restore the once prominent tower.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 6 to become hurricane in Gulf of Mexico before striking Texas, Louisiana

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, whose administration helped secure $7 million in private funds to pay for the demolition, described the event as “bittersweet.”

“I know how hard the city tried to work with several development groups to see it saved, but ultimately… it proved to be too tall a task,” Hunter said in the moments leading up to the implosion.

Hurricane forecasters expect below-normal cyclone activity through September’s season peak

“It’s been four years. It’s been long enough.”

The Hertz Tower and Lake Charles had been battered by Hurricane Laura in 2020 , with the Category 4 storm wrecking buildings and claiming the lives of more than 25 people in the region.

As Louisiana struggled to recover, Hurricane Delta struck the region six weeks later, with the two storms estimated to have caused $22 billion in damage, according to the National Hurricane Center.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MORNING REPORT NEWSLETTER

The storms badly damaged the Hertz Tower, a mainstay on the city’s skyline for more than 40 years — leaving it with shattered windows, shredded tarps and flooding damage.

The Hertz Investment Group, which owns the property, had promised to repair the building once it settled things in court with its insurance provider, Zurich, The Advocate reported .

The estimated cost to repair the building was set at $167 million, but the two parties eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.

City officials said Hertz still owns the property, and the future of the site remains unknown.

The Hertz Investment Group did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

With Post wires

For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.