A scary scene unfolded in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood late Friday morning when strong winds sent a massive four-story scaffolding crashing to the ground. The collapse happened around 11 a.m. on Beacon Street, and while the damage was intense, thankfully no one was hurt.
According to Boston’s Deputy Fire Chief Brian Tully, workers had been doing brick repairs on the building when powerful gusts tore at the scaffolding, making it buckle and fall apart. Witnesses described a loud, terrifying noise as wood and metal came crashing down onto parked cars below, leaving a pile of debris in its wake.
Even as crews started cleaning up the mess, the wind didn’t let up. Later in the morning, another section of scaffolding collapsed, adding to the chaos. Wind speeds at the time were measured between 49 and 55 mph, and while the exact reason for the collapse hasn’t been confirmed, the gusty conditions are believed to have played a major role.
The strong winds were part of a massive coast-to-coast storm that had already caused serious weather problems across the country, from deadly storms in the South to blizzards in the Midwest. Meteorologists warned that the high winds could continue into the evening, possibly affecting weekend travel.
Those warnings quickly became reality at Boston Logan International Airport. By 12:30 p.m., the airport had already announced flight delays due to the wind, advising travelers to check their flight status before heading out.
The storm also knocked out power for more than 80,000 customers across New England. Though utility crews worked quickly, many were still without electricity early Friday afternoon, though the situation improved by the evening.
For now, Boston’s Back Bay is cleaning up and counting its blessings that this frightening incident didn’t lead to any injuries. But with the winds still howling, people are keeping a watchful eye on what comes next.
