PHOENIX, AZ – A heartbreaking end came to a three-day search and rescue effort in Phoenix when a body, believed to belong to missing warehouse employee Oswaldo Antonio Montoya Torres, was found on Saturday. The 22-year-old warehouse worker went missing on Wednesday night after the building’s roof collapsed during severe monsoon storms, according to Fire Capt. Todd Keller.
On Wednesday around 9:30 p.m., a microburst hit west Phoenix causing significant damage. Winds of up to 77 miles per hour resulted in torn roofs, partial building collapses, and uprooted trees across the city. Among the damaged buildings was a warehouse located near 43rd Avenue and Van Buren Street where Torres worked.
At the time of the storm, Torres was reportedly operating a forklift and became trapped beneath the debris when the warehouse roof fell in.
Firefighters utilized trained K-9s, drones, and heavy-duty cranes to navigate through the unsafe conditions and diligently worked 12-hour shifts to clear the rubble. By Friday, crews had managed to clear over 40,000 pounds of concrete from an area where the body was later located.
Torres’ sister, Judith Montoya, pleaded for prayers during the search operation. The family was notified of Torres’ presence in the building at the time of the storm. She revealed that Torres and his partner had just celebrated the birth of a baby boy a few weeks prior.
The Phoenix Fire Department continues to stand with Torres’ family during this painful time, providing full support and resources. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Keller stated.