15-year-old girl killed, 3 seriously injured after partial building collapse in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — A 15-year-old girl was killed and three others were injured Saturday evening when part of a building collapsed during a graduation party at the Portuguese American Citizens Club in Portsmouth.

Assistant Fire Chief Howie Tighe said emergency crews responded to the scene on Power Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. following reports of a building collapse, trapping several people underneath the front stairwell.

The injured include two 17-year-old girls and a 49-year-old woman, all of whom were transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

A building inspector has been called to assess the structure, and an investigation into what caused the collapse is ongoing.

Photo: @RIBNS (X, formerly Twitter)