BARBOURSVILLE, West Virginia (AP) — A Target superstore in Barboursville, West Virginia, was forced to shut down indefinitely after a slipping hillside caused part of the building to collapse, tearing off one corner of the store. The closure occurred on February 2 when the hill first slipped, and then the building sustained further damage on Wednesday, prompting the closure. Shocking video footage shows a giant crack in the corner of the store where the ground beneath has given way, causing it to fall free.
It’s not yet known what caused the slippage, but three families were evacuated from homes behind Target, with the shopping chain covering their moving expenses. Target has stated that they are working towards removing the damaged portion of the store starting this week and will take additional steps to prepare for construction in the coming months.
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum has assured the public that there is not thought to be any danger to other businesses in the area, and they will continue to be operational. However, the water supply to the area has been limited as authorities investigate the slipping hill, with a West Virginia American Water spokesperson informing WSAZ that the initial slip on February 2 had damaged its water main. Additionally, Mayor Tatum mentioned that the perimeter and roadway behind the building had also been significantly damaged.
Tatum has expressed concern about crowds coming to see the damage, referring to them as ‘looky loo’ outsiders who were ‘invading the neighborhood’. He emphasized the need to give affected residents privacy and the construction teams room to work, as the safety of all affected is the number one concern.
Target has stated that the safety of their team, guests, and neighbors is their top priority, and they are continuing to work on the Barboursville store to address the recent land movement. They are also collaborating with local officials to secure the area and repair the store as safely as possible. As of now, the store has been forced to close indefinitely while engineers assess the situation and work towards a solution.