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No injuries reported

 

TRYON—A large retaining wall in downtown Tryon collapsed during heavy rain around midday on Tuesday, January 9, severely damaging several vehicles.

The wall was located in a small parking area between the back of the Tryon Post office and the Tryon Fine Arts Center and fell on four vehicles. There was visible red clay behind the wall along with torn-out foliage and what appeared to be a broken or leaking pipe. 

Three of the four vehicles crushed by the wall were owned by post office employees. Many workers and Tryon residents were stricken with disbelief at the damage. 

“It looks like we’re calling structural engineers and finding out what’s going on,” said Executive Director of the Tryon Fine Arts Center Marianne Curruth. “Other than that, I don’t really have much to say.”

Workers at the post office shared their experience of the moments when the wall collapsed.

“I heard a big bang when it fell,” said Ivy Quick, Postmaster at the Tryon Post Office. “We thought it was something going on across the street, but one of my clerks knew it was back [behind the post office]. So yeah, this is what we’re going through.”

As of 12:15 p.m., the Tryon Police Department had visited the scene of the incident and had filed a report.