Part of building at Detroit's Eastern Market falls on busy Saturday

Detroit — Part of a building in Eastern Market fell during its busy farmers market Saturday.

A hole is visible in the middle of the top two floors of a brick building, known as the Del Bene building, on the corner of Winder and Russell in Detroit. Beyond Juicery and Eatery is located on the first floor.

Detroit Fire Chief James Harris said the department received a call about a possible building collapse and explosion at about 11:38 a.m. Saturday.

Harris said a person was walking by during the collapse and had minor injuries, possibly from falling debris, and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Harris said the department cleared the building and used a drone to make sure no one was left inside.

"We don't know the cause. We don't know the origin," Harris said. "We do know we made sure everybody got out."

A nearby Eastern Market vendor Tara Grey, owner of Gus and Grey, said she initially thought someone was "lighting off fireworks" when the building collapsed, and more than a hundred people began running.

"I knew it sounded close and I thought it was really weird. ... There was smoke everywhere," Grey told The News.  

Grey said bricks from the "big, gaping hole" flanked the building and vehicles along Winder and Russell streets were covered in smoke.

Crews from DTE Energy and the Detroit Fire Department remained on the scene Saturday afternoon.  

Katy Trudeau, acting president of the Eastern Market Partnership, said she could not detail what caused the incident.  

"We're working with the city of Detroit police and fire departments to ensure the safety of everyone involved," Trudeau said. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of our customers."

This comes during a busy Saturday when farmers and other local vendors sell items in nearby sheds and lots at the 24-acre market at 2934 Russell Street from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.