USA: OKLAHOMA CITY: REMAINS OF BOMBED BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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English/Nat The remains of the bombed-out Federal Building in Oklahoma will be demolished over the next 10 days. Contracts have been awarded to two companies to demolish what's left of the building with explosives and to haul away the debris. Now that rescuers and investigators have finished their tasks inside the bombed out Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, demolition experts have been called in to finish the job that was started when terrorists exploded a massive bomb on April 19. Calling the building structurally unsound and unsafe, the General Services Administration has called for the building to be destroyed as soon as possible. It stands as part of the Oklahoma City skyline. An unmistakable and tragic sight that reminds those who live there of the tragedy that occurred less than three weeks ago. Once teeming with firemen, volunteers and investigators, now it stands empty. Except for two women still believed to be entombed within its ruined confines. Called to destroy the building is Maryland-based Controlled Demolitions Incorporated (CDI). Its President says that planning is nearly complete and demolition should occur within the next ten days. SOUNDBITE: "Explosives are more catalytic than anything else, permitting that potential energy to come to the fore, to let gravity come into play. Then by controlling the structure by carefully timing the sequence of initiation of those demolition charges, we can let the building come down at its own pace. Almost gently." SUPER CAPTION: Mark Loizeaux, President, Controlled Demolitions Inc. [Sound from CDI tape: " the huge structure bowed before wave after wave of carefully timed charges"] Loizeaux says that his company is well used to tragedies, having been called in to help clean up the 1985 Mexican earthquake and catastrophic building collapses such as when the Sheik Akakl Center collapsed in Saudi Arabia, killing 30 construction workers, in 1981. He says this one is different though, it happened here, in America's heartland. SOUNDBITE: "It holds its own place in the record books. The city is a different place now, the people are a different people...they're changed by this, can't help but be changed by something like this. They are interested in closure and our approaching this project with full cooperation from the various agencies and the people of Oklahoma, this will go smoothly. We're going to treat it respectfully and get it done safely. SUPER CAPTION: Mark Loizeaux, President, Controlled Demolitions Inc. After the demolition is over the plan will be to recover intact the remains of the two known victims left behind. By marking and protecting the area where rescuers believe they rest, they say the bodies should easily be found. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3004c6635d2ca5ff95b9b007595f0b78 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork