Roof collapse at Newark apartment building forces residents to evacuate

NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) – A roof collapsed at an apartment building in Newark, forcing residents to evacuate to less-than-ideal circumstances Sunday night.

The incident happened at an apartment building at 333 Park Ave. as a strong storm dropped heavy rain on the tri-state area.

Water poured into the apartment building after the roof collapsed. Videos shared with PIX11 News showed water flooding the hallways of the building.

“When I got into the hallway, it was like a waterfall,” said Sharon Sims, who lives in the building. “It’s pouring down. Not only is the water flooding in our apartment, but it’s coming down in the hallway. It’s coming through light fixtures.”

Neighbors made a mad dash to get out, with some people leaving behind phones, car keys and even their pets.

Dozens of residents were displaced. People were bused to hotels to spend the night.

However, residents ended up sleeping in the hotel lobbies after the apartment building’s management company reserved rooms but didn’t pay for them.

“It was no communication. It was a runaround,” Sims said. “The landlord stopped answering his phone after three or four phone calls.”

Newark’s Office of Emergency Management transported residents to a nearby Red Cross shelter Monday morning.

Some residents returned to their building the next day to find it taped off with their possessions still inside. Firefighters rescued pets that were left behind.

Residents said they have made complaints about the roof before and there has been flooding in the past, but it was nothing like what they experienced Sunday night.

PIX11 News reached out to the building’s management company for comment but hasn’t received a response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.