Heavy rain caused a portion of the roof at a BJ's Wholesale Club in central New Jersey to collapse Monday morning as severe storms swept across parts of the Northeast, officials said.
Ocean Township, situated along the Jersey Shore east of Trenton, was among the hardest-hit areas in Monmouth County as torrential rain and flash flooding impacted the region. Severe storms also affected several neighboring states over the weekend, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Officials said 27 people were inside when the collapse occurred, two of whom were briefly trapped but managed to free themselves and safely exit the building.
No injuries were immediately reported in connection with the incident. The BJ's Wholesale Club is listed as temporarily closed online. NTD reached out to the company's corporate office for comment, but a response was not received by publication time.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Ocean Township Police Department and the Monmouth County Urban Search and Rescue Team, which conducted a thorough search of the store. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office also used an interior drone to sweep the building, while New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue deployed K-9 teams to assist with the search.
In a statement, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden praised first responders for their swift response amid the challenging conditions.
"This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions," Golden said. "Despite the ongoing flooding and severe weather affecting our communities, all worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone was safely accounted for. Their dedication and teamwork exemplify the very best of public safety."
Following the partial roof collapse, authorities in Ocean Township urged local residents to avoid the area amid the extreme flooding.