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| Five die in wall collapse at Birmingham recycling site | Five die in wall collapse at Birmingham recycling site |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five workers were killed at a recycling site in Birmingham when a retaining wall holding scrap metal collapsed. | Five workers were killed at a recycling site in Birmingham when a retaining wall holding scrap metal collapsed. |
| Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal in the Nechells area of the city shortly before 09:00 BST on Thursday. | Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal in the Nechells area of the city shortly before 09:00 BST on Thursday. |
| A spokesman for West Midlands Police said emergency services attended the site but the men were pronounced dead. | A spokesman for West Midlands Police said emergency services attended the site but the men were pronounced dead. |
| Det Supt Mark Payne described the scene on Aston Church Road as "a very traumatic incident." It is understood a sixth man managed to scramble free. | Det Supt Mark Payne described the scene on Aston Church Road as "a very traumatic incident." It is understood a sixth man managed to scramble free. |
| He was taken to Heartlands Hospital with a broken leg. | He was taken to Heartlands Hospital with a broken leg. |
| Latest updates on this story | Latest updates on this story |
| A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance crews found that a wall had collapsed. | A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance crews found that a wall had collapsed. |
| "Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the five men who had been working next to it." | "Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the five men who had been working next to it." |
| The Press Association is reporting the men killed are believed to be Spanish nationals, originally from Gambia. | The Press Association is reporting the men killed are believed to be Spanish nationals, originally from Gambia. |
| They were working next to a "large concrete structure containing metal" when it collapsed, said the fire service. | They were working next to a "large concrete structure containing metal" when it collapsed, said the fire service. |
| A specialist team of firefighters is on scene with heavy lifting gear and cutting equipment to recover their bodies. | A specialist team of firefighters is on scene with heavy lifting gear and cutting equipment to recover their bodies. |
| Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said it was a "devastating incident for everyone involved". | Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said it was a "devastating incident for everyone involved". |
| BBC News reporter Andrew Dawkins at the scene | BBC News reporter Andrew Dawkins at the scene |
| Dozens of friends and relatives of the victims have been anxiously waiting outside the plant during the recovery operation. | Dozens of friends and relatives of the victims have been anxiously waiting outside the plant during the recovery operation. |
| One of them, Lang Dampha, says two of the dead were his lodgers - and that he had known one of them since childhood. | One of them, Lang Dampha, says two of the dead were his lodgers - and that he had known one of them since childhood. |
| "I feel sad about it. We come from the same town - Noo-Kunda in Gambia," he said. | "I feel sad about it. We come from the same town - Noo-Kunda in Gambia," he said. |
| Another man in the crowd, Dantra Sillah, said his cousin is among the dead. | Another man in the crowd, Dantra Sillah, said his cousin is among the dead. |
| He said the five men who died were from different families, but all knew each other well through attending mosques in the city. | He said the five men who died were from different families, but all knew each other well through attending mosques in the city. |
| "It is very sad," he said. "We don't have any clear information." | "It is very sad," he said. "We don't have any clear information." |
| Another onlooker, Manka Sawo, said: "It is a tight community. We pray in the same mosques…they are very hard working. | Another onlooker, Manka Sawo, said: "It is a tight community. We pray in the same mosques…they are very hard working. |
| "This will greatly affect the community. Yesterday we went to congregation with one of the men for Eid." | "This will greatly affect the community. Yesterday we went to congregation with one of the men for Eid." |
| Mr Taylor said: "Once the police have finished their initial examination of the scene, our absolute priority will be to ensure that the bodies of those who have lost their lives are recovered in the most timely and safe way possible, and with the utmost dignity and respect. | Mr Taylor said: "Once the police have finished their initial examination of the scene, our absolute priority will be to ensure that the bodies of those who have lost their lives are recovered in the most timely and safe way possible, and with the utmost dignity and respect. |
| "The scene is an extremely challenging one, involving significant tonnage of concrete and metal and a structure that is still unstable." | "The scene is an extremely challenging one, involving significant tonnage of concrete and metal and a structure that is still unstable." |
| The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and it is understood officers are at the scene. | The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and it is understood officers are at the scene. |
| Det Supt Payne said: "We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning. | Det Supt Payne said: "We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning. |
| "Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time. | "Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time. |
| "This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene." | "This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene." |
| At a news conference from the scene, he said the victims had been working to recover scrap metal when the accident happened. | At a news conference from the scene, he said the victims had been working to recover scrap metal when the accident happened. |
| He described the collapsed structure as 12-15ft high and made of "concrete blocks" which were supporting the scrap metal. | He described the collapsed structure as 12-15ft high and made of "concrete blocks" which were supporting the scrap metal. |
| "It appears the wall collapsed on the men and the scrap metal has fallen on top," he said. "It's a difficult and complex scene." | "It appears the wall collapsed on the men and the scrap metal has fallen on top," he said. "It's a difficult and complex scene." |
| The officer said the recovery operation was expected to last most of the day, with witness statements and CCTV of the scene being gathered. | The officer said the recovery operation was expected to last most of the day, with witness statements and CCTV of the scene being gathered. |
| Police liaison officers are with the families of some of the men helping them to cope with what he described as a "tragic incident". | Police liaison officers are with the families of some of the men helping them to cope with what he described as a "tragic incident". |
| John Woodhall, from West Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous response team, described workers at the scene being "very upset". | John Woodhall, from West Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous response team, described workers at the scene being "very upset". |
| "We've had to bring in heavy lifting equipment, there are a number of hazards we've got to resolve," he added. | "We've had to bring in heavy lifting equipment, there are a number of hazards we've got to resolve," he added. |
| Slav Angiyu, a truck driver, was on site when the accident happened. | Slav Angiyu, a truck driver, was on site when the accident happened. |
| He said: "The guys came over and said something had happened and we had to abandon the site. My heart goes out to the families of the victims." | He said: "The guys came over and said something had happened and we had to abandon the site. My heart goes out to the families of the victims." |
| Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Shocked to hear about the tragedy in Birmingham. My thoughts are with the families of those involved." | Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Shocked to hear about the tragedy in Birmingham. My thoughts are with the families of those involved." |
| The recycling plant was the scene of a major fire in February this year, when 700 tonnes of scrap metal went up in flames. | The recycling plant was the scene of a major fire in February this year, when 700 tonnes of scrap metal went up in flames. |
| In 2012, the company was fined £50,000 after a worker's arm became trapped in machinery. | |
| Hawkeswood Metal Recycling Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety law at Birmingham Crown Court. | |
| According to its company website, the firm processes more than 500,000 tonnes of scrap metal each year. | |
| The firm began trading more than 40 years ago and has a customer base that includes local authorities, major PLCs and smaller independent companies. | The firm began trading more than 40 years ago and has a customer base that includes local authorities, major PLCs and smaller independent companies. |