Ceiling of IHOP Restaurant Collapses on Diners, Injuring 9 People

A ceiling suddenly collapsed on top of diners at an IHOP location in New York City, injuring nine people.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said the ceiling of the restaurant, located in the Flatlands neighborhood of Brooklyn, collapsed on Friday, Sept. 5.

“EMS treated a total of nine patients, all with minor injuries. Five were transported to area hospitals, and four refused additional medical attention,” the FDNY said.

The Department of Buildings told CBS News New York and News 12 Long Island that a 10-by-10-inch section of the ceiling collapsed due to possible water damage, and pieces of the building fell on customers dining inside.

PEOPLE reached out to IHOP for comment, but did not receive an immediate response on Sunday, Sept. 7.

One witness, who spoke with News 12, said he was just sitting down to eat at the diner-style chain restaurant when he heard noises coming from behind him.

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“As I’m sitting down, I start hearing noises,” the witness, Jamie Lee, recalled.

“And when I turn around, the entire ceiling was collapsing. So I was immediately trying to get out,” he continued. “You know, I come to eat here. And I should have been safe while enjoying my meal. And I wasn’t … I could have been potentially hurt worse than what I am now.”

According to CBS News New York, the Department of Buildings issued the restaurant’s owner a violation for allegedly having failed to maintain the building.

Footage from both outlets showed a sign on the door indicating that a vacate order is in place, and another handwritten message hanging in the window that read: “No Dine In! Thank you.”