OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ (VINnews) – A section of the roof collapsed Monday at a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Oakhurst as heavy rain and flooding swept through parts of Monmouth County, prompting an emergency search for possible victims and concerns over a gas leak.
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The collapse occurred at the store located at 1904 NJ-35, Oakhurst, NJ 07755, where officials reported that an approximately 50-foot section of the roof fell into the building, including the bakery area.

Emergency responders initially began searching for as many as three possible victims believed to have been in the affected section of the store, according to emergency dispatch reports.

The gas utility was requested to respond after a reported gas leak, while crews worked to shut off electrical power and water supplying the building’s sprinkler system.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office urged motorists to avoid Route 35 in Ocean Township because of severe flooding, calling travel in the area “extremely dangerous.” The agency said first responders remained at the BJ’s Wholesale Club managing the roof collapse and asked the public to stay away to allow emergency crews to operate safely.

The sheriff’s office also released a photograph showing a vehicle partially submerged in floodwaters in Ocean Township, underscoring the dangerous conditions created by the storm.

There was no immediate official confirmation of injuries or the cause of the roof collapse. Authorities have not yet released additional details.