A partial roof collapse occurred at a BJ's Wholesale Club in Ocean Township, New Jersey, on Monday morning around 11:15 a.m. due to torrential rain and severe flooding. No injuries were reported, though two people were briefly trapped but freed themselves without assistance. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office confirmed that 27 people were inside the store at the time of the collapse, and subsequent searches by drones and K-9 units confirmed no one was trapped or harmed.
The collapse was attributed to excessive rain, which caused significant flooding in the area. Surveillance footage showed debris falling into a large pile as water gushed in, pushing tables and shopping carts. An elderly man was seen being bumped by a table but remained unharmed. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden described the incident as a reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous conditions.
Authorities urged residents to avoid the area, particularly around Route 35, Park Avenue, and Deal Road, due to ongoing flooding and hazardous conditions. The sheriff's office estimated that 20% of the building collapsed in the incident.