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Police release 911 calls from the SouthPark Mall roof collapse

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly a week after part of the roof at SouthPark Mall collapsed, some of the frantic 911 calls made by people inside have been released.

"I'm at SouthPark Mall, and the ceiling just collapsed here," said a man, who identified himself as a worker at the Gap.

On the same call, a dispatcher asked, "Where exactly are you inside the mall?"

The caller responded, saying, "It's, like, right near the center of the mall."

The damage, following severe thunderstorms last Friday, shut down a portion of the mall for several days. A mall representative said most stores were back open, and the property had been deemed structurally sound by an engineer.

In addition to seeing falling debris and rainwater pour down into the mall, callers were asked to describe other damage by dispatchers, while emergency crews were on the way to the mall.

"Can you see the sky, or is it just, like, ceiling tiles?" a dispatcher asked.

"It's just the ceiling. It's just water everywhere," explained the caller.

No one was hurt in the incident.