"Unable to Cover 220 Billion Won Repair Costs... Let's Blow It Up" US Skyscraper Collapses in an Instant

Building Damaged by Hurricane 4 Years Ago

A high-rise building in Louisiana, USA, damaged by a hurricane was ultimately demolished because the repair costs of 220 billion won could not be borne.

According to foreign media including the New York Post on the 8th (local time), the 22-story building 'Hertz Tower' in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was demolished by controlled explosion the day before. Videos of the explosion posted on social media show a series of blasts followed by the entire building collapsing in a massive cloud of dust within moments.

[Image source=X (formerly Twitter)]

Built in 1983, Hertz Tower was a 94-meter tall building purchased by Hertz Investment Group in 2008. At one time, Capital One Bank occupied the building, so it was also called 'Capital One Tower.' However, the building was damaged when Hurricanes Laura and Delta made back-to-back landfalls in 2020. Eventually, this city landmark became an eyesore.

The building owner, Hertz Investment Group, estimated that about $167 million (approximately 224.1 billion won) would be needed for restoration. However, unable to afford the high repair costs, Hertz Tower was left abandoned for four years with some windows broken.

[Image source=X (formerly Twitter)]

They also attempted to sell the building, but with no buyers, demolition was ultimately decided. The cost of the controlled explosion is reported to be a total of $7 million (about 9.4 billion won).

Nick Hunter, mayor of Lake Charles, described the demolition as "bittersweet," saying, "The city tried to preserve the building with several development companies, but it proved to be a difficult task."

Netizens who heard the news expressed various reactions such as, "Even if repaired, it could be damaged again by another hurricane. A good decision," "It's sad to lose a local landmark," and "The demolition cost was not insignificant." Meanwhile, the land where the building stood remains owned by Hertz, and how it will be used in the future is not yet known.