Controlled Blasts Bring Down Cranes at NOLA’s Hard Rock Ruins [VIDEO]

Demolition experts used controlled explosives to bring down two cranes swaying over the partially collapsed Hard Rock Hotel construction site in New Orleans.Officials. The blast, termed a success by city officials, took place Sunday afternoon.

Here are more details from nola.com:

"The area around the Hard Rock Hotel remains closed to the public because of safety concerns.

Officials hoped to knock down the cranes that were damaged during Saturday's collapse of the top floors of the hotel, which was under construction at Canal and North Rampart streets. 

The top floors of the hotel suddenly collapsed Saturday morning, sending tons of debris to the ground and trapping some workers inside the rubble. Three people were killed, and dozens more were injured. Authorities believe two bodies remain in the wreckage."

Officials say it was necessary that the demolition take place as soon as possible due to the possibility of high winds from a storm approaching the city from the Gulf of Mexico.