A building in downtown Atlantic was evacuated Sunday night, after a huge portion of a brick wall collapsed onto the sidewalk below, causing a section of sidewalk to also collapse. The incident was reported to have occurred at around 6:50-p.m.

500 Chestnut brick wall collapse. (Ric Hanson, photos)

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson told KJAN News they received a call about a loud noise at 5th and Chestnut. Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue came to investigate and found a section of the north wall near the northwest side of the building at 500 Chestnut had collapsed, showering bricks on the sidewalk.

Erickson estimated two-to three tons of brick fell from a section of wall about 20-to 30-feet wide and about six-feet tall, near the top of the building. No injuries were reported. Three people who live on the second floor of the structure were evacuated. Fifth street was cordoned-off from traffic as a safety precaution.

500 Chestnut brick wall collapse. (Ric Hanson, photos)

The cause of the partial collapse had not been determined late Sunday, but Erickson said it could have been anything from old mortar to water getting underneath the bricks, causing them to loosen and fall. An engineer will have to assess the damage and evaluate the building.

Atlantic Police were assisted at the scene by the Atlantic Fire Department, the Atlantic Streets Dept., who help set-up barricades, and Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon.