Scaffold collapse kills 1

Photo: Miami PD

Construction scaffolding fell to the street from a downtown Miami highrise Wednesday afternoon, causing one death and five injuries, authorities said.

A man in his 50s had a fatal "cardiac episode" while running from falling debris near the approximately 50-story Echo Brickell condominium building, Miami Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Joseph Zahralban told the Miami Herald.

A woman inside a car hit by debris was hospitalized with injuries that weren't life threatening, as were two construction workers, Zahralban said. Two other people were treated at the scene.

Jenny Rivero, who works on a top floor of an adjacent building, said she and her colleagues heard the scaffolding crashing down.

"We just saw some debris flying across the window," she said.

She said wood planks and metal bars were scattered on the street below. A photo she posted on Twitter showed emergency personnel and vehicles crowding the street. She was evacuated as a precaution.

The building's developer, Property Markets Group, released a statement saying it is investigating the situation.

The construction accident led to a temporary road closure in the heavily congested Miami neighbourhood.