Body of person killed in Hard Rock Hotel collapse exposed after tarp covering remains is moved by winds

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The body of a person killed in the Hard Rock Hotel collapse has been exposed after gusty winds moved the tarp initially covering it.

Images of the deceased victim’s legs are being circulated on social media, but city officials are asking that people refrain from sharing them out of “basic common decency.”

LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans, posted the following statement on social media Tuesday night:

“A tarp put in place to conceal the remains of one of the victims of the Hard Rock collapse has been shifted by the wind—exposing those remains. The condition of the building and the altitude above street level complicate efforts to replace the tarp, as they have prevented recovery thus far.

“To be clear: capturing or sharing images of the victims in such a condition is irresponsible, it is indefensible, and it is not who we are as New Orleanians. Out of respect to the victims and their families, and in the name of basic common decency: we urge news outlets, residents, and social media users to have nothing to do with making a tragic situation needlessly worse.”

https://www.facebook.com/mayorcantrell/posts/1016876152015700

On Friday, Mayor Cantrell said at a press conference that city officials are now preparing for the implosion of the Hard Rock building.

Originally, “traditional picking-apart demolition” was planned in order to recover the bodies that remain within the collapse site.

Cantrell says the recovery of the bodies would come after the implosion, which could happen as early as March.

Three other buildings adjacent to the Hard Rock site will also be demolished, out of an abundance of caution, to ensure the safety of the implosion.

https://www.facebook.com/mayorcantrell/videos/215204166312409/