She instructed me to warn them immediately, keep people away from the damaged area, and avoid creating a rush toward the staircase.
I hurried toward the first step.
Before I reached it, a terrible cracking sound came from above.
The music stopped.
Someone screamed.
Then Karen appeared at the top of the stairs, gripping the railing.
“Oh my God!” she shrieked, staring behind her.
For one awful second, I thought someone had fallen through.
“What happened?” I shouted.
“The floor moved!”
A man yelled for everyone to get downstairs.
Several people surged toward Karen.
“Stop!” I called. “Don’t run!”
I could hear the dispatcher speaking through my phone.
I repeated her instructions as loudly as I could.
“The terrace is damaged! Move away from the railing and listen carefully. We need everyone down without pushing!”
A woman near the staircase raised both hands.
“Everybody, stop moving!”
The crowd quieted enough for me to hear her.
