PHOTOS: Crane implosion at Hard Rock Hotel collapse site

Two cranes begin to come down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

PHOTOS: Crane implosion at Hard Rock Hotel collapse site

by Matthew Hinton | October 21, 2019

Sunday afternoon two cranes were toppled at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in downtown New Orleans.

Officials said in a press conference after the implosion the cranes could now be taken apart piece by piece. Authorities added their next mission is to recover the bodies of two victims still inside the building before it is demolished.

“We know that we are safer now than we have been in the past eight days,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

Crews install explosives before two cranes came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site New Orleans, La. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Hard Rock Hotel crane demolition and collapse in New Orleans, La. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Fire Chief Tim McConnell speak at a press conference before two cranes came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site New Orleans, La. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Fire Chief Tim McConnell speak at a press conference after two cranes came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Fire Chief Tim McConnell head to a press conference after two cranes came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

One crane came to rest on the building after two cranes leave came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Two cranes leave a dust cloud after coming down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

One is crane lies in the street after two cranes came down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

A United States flag comes free and flied upside down at two cranes begin to come down after a demolition implosion at the Hard Rock Hotel collapse site in New Orleans Sunday October 20, 2019. Three people died and at least 20 were injured in the initial collapse on Saturday October 12th. No one was injured Sunday when the demolition caused one of the two cranes to land in the street below. A sewer line was damaged but the buried gas and electrical lines were not damaged according to city officials. The historical Saenger Theatre did not sustain major damage at the crane collapse with the crane just missing the theater. The crane was already leaning after the initial collapse and would have likely fallen down in the next few days without a planned demolition. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Hard Rock Hotel crane demolition and collapse in New Orleans, La. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Photo by Matthew Hinton

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Matthew Hinton

Matthew Hinton is a New Orleans area freelance photographer whose work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Best of Photojournalism Awards in 2014 and 2016, and by numerous awards from the Press Club of New Orleans, including the Hal Ledet President's Print Photography Award, the highest honor the Press Club can bestow upon a photographer.
Matthew Hinton has previously been a staff photographer at both of the daily newspapers in New Orleans. His work has appeared nationally and internationally through freelance work with the Associated Press and AFP, Agence France-Presse.

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