Two window washers suffered minor injuries on Thursday after a cable snapped during high winds, slamming their platform into the curved glass face of the Encore Las Vegas Casino Resort, and shattering the window, causing broken glass to shower the swimming pool area.
Clark County firefighters used an axe to break through the 15th floor window and pull the two men to safety.
Scott Allison, a fire spokesman, described how windows broke as the platform hit the 48 story tower facing the strip. He said “It was raining glass.”
About 15 windows were broken, but no injuries were reported inside or outside the casino. According to Wynn Resorts spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne, some guests had to be moved to other rooms.
One window washer was taken to hospital for treatment of some minor injuries. Another was treated on the scene for some cuts and bruises.
The workers, who were employees of a window maintenance subcontracting company, were not immediately identified. Both men were wearing safety harnesses when their platform’s cable broke.
The National Weather Service reported winds of 26MPH at the nearby McCarran International Airport at the time of the incident, with gusts of up to 44MPH. Authorities in Las Vegas had issued a dust advisory and a fire weather watch on the day, in light of forecasts of a fast moving storm sweeping through the area.
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