(NewsNation) —A St. Petersburg, Florida, nonmigratory said helium was “terrified” the infinitesimal helium heard a monolithic crane clang into a adjacent building, fearing different would travel down connected him arsenic fierce winds from Hurricane Milton pummeled the country Wednesday.

The crane rammed into the broadside of a ample bureau gathering Wednesday night, causing severe damage and partial collapse.

Resident John Silling lives crossed from the gathering that was deed and told NewsNation helium ran for screen aft the crash.

“We heard a monolithic explosion. We heard solid shatter. We were pretty, beauteous terrified,” helium said.

“I ran into the stairwell of the gathering adjacent to it successful hopes that the different crane wouldn't travel down,” helium said. “We kept looking retired the model to spot if the different 1 was coming.”

Silling said helium had gone done Hurricane Ian successful 2022, but “it was thing compared to this.” 

The crane came down connected a gathering antecedently occupied by the Tampa Bay Times newspaper. Police said nary 1 was wrong the gathering during the clang and caution portion was enactment up astir the damaged area. 

Crane inspectors had begun assessing the monolithic harm Thursday morning. 

Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida arsenic a Category 3 tempest pounding cities with winds of implicit 100 mph aft producing a barrage of tornadoes Wednesday. 

St. Petersburg recorded implicit 16 inches of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to pass of flash flooding.