Workers demolish wrong house after relying on Google Maps for directions

A demolition firm accidentally tore down the wrong house - before blaming an incorrect address listing on Google Maps.

The company, Billy L Nabors Demolition, had obtained a demolition permit for a duplex in Rowlett, Texas.

But when employees called their supervisor to confirm the number of the flat they were demolishing, they failed to clarify the street address – attending Calypso Drive instead of Cousteau Drive, which is one street away.

Lindsay Diaz, who owns the flat that survived tornadoes which ripped through the state in December, pulled into her driveway to find her home was no more than a pile of rubble.

Ms Diaz told WFAA: “How do you make a mistake like this? I mean, this is just the worst. That’s what their job is – to wreck [houses] in demolition, and they really wrecked my life.”

Employees from the company later texted photos from Google Maps that shows the arrow for 7601 Cousteau pointing at the duplex a block away, according to WFAA. The crew reportedly thought they tore down the correct home, adding that the situation was "not a big deal".

Demolition companies are not required to be licensed in the state of Texas, but all contractors working in tornado-damaged areas must register with the city of Rowlett.

Ms Diaz then recounted to CBS: "The team went out in the morning ... They called him. They said, we’re at 7601, 7603. Is it the corner lot? Was it damaged by the tornado? Yes, yes, yes. Except the street wasn’t confirmed."

Brian Funderburk, city manager, rejected the firm's attempts to play down the situation. He told WFAA: "I think this is a huge deal. The homeowners were in the process of trying to figure out what it was going to take to repair their home and now they're looking at rebuilding it instead. I think this is a very big deal."