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Crane collapse forces evacuation Crane collapse forces evacuation
(about 1 hour later)
A crane has collapsed on to a block of flats in Liverpool city centre, forcing the evacuation of the building.A crane has collapsed on to a block of flats in Liverpool city centre, forcing the evacuation of the building.
Eight fire crews and a search and rescue unit were called to the scene on Tabley Street just after midday, Merseyside Fire Service said.Eight fire crews and a search and rescue unit were called to the scene on Tabley Street just after midday, Merseyside Fire Service said.
There are no reports of any casualties but crews are still in the process of evacuating the four-storey building. The crane driver was rescued from the roof of the four-storey building and has been taken to hospital.
Eyewitness James Johnson told the BBC the crane had been left "wrapped over the building".Eyewitness James Johnson told the BBC the crane had been left "wrapped over the building".
Mr Johnson, 26, lives in the apartment block opposite the building and witnessed the aftermath.Mr Johnson, 26, lives in the apartment block opposite the building and witnessed the aftermath.
We went through the emergency exit but it was full of falling debris Sarah Banfield, residentWe went through the emergency exit but it was full of falling debris Sarah Banfield, resident
"I just heard this huge crash and I just thought they dropped some concrete," he told BBC News."I just heard this huge crash and I just thought they dropped some concrete," he told BBC News.
"But when I looked out of the window I saw the crane wrapped over the top of the building.""But when I looked out of the window I saw the crane wrapped over the top of the building."
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the incident was still ongoing. James Berry, group manager for Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said a search was conducted on all floors of the building to make sure all residents were accounted for.
"We were called at about 1205 BST to say that a crane had collapsed on to a four-storey building on Tabley Street," she said. Mr Berry said a five-ton weight attached to the crane's arm careered through the building and residents had a lucky escape.
"A full search of the building is being carried out and fire crews are evacuating anyone inside." Falling debris
The end of the crane appeared to pierce part of the roof "It's fortunate that, at that time of the day, the majority of flats would have been unoccupied," he said.
"Significant resources are here from the police, fire and regional ambulance and we expect to be here for some time.
"We want to make sure that the building is secure and that no people are missing."
The crane had been working on a nearby apartment block at the time of the incident.
Resident Sarah Banfield was helped out of the Chandler's Wharf building along with her boyfriend, Andrew, by a builder.Resident Sarah Banfield was helped out of the Chandler's Wharf building along with her boyfriend, Andrew, by a builder.
She said she dodged plumes of dust, falling debris and holes in the floor to get out.She said she dodged plumes of dust, falling debris and holes in the floor to get out.
"The whole building shuddered. It felt like it was literally shaking," she said."The whole building shuddered. It felt like it was literally shaking," she said.
"We grabbed hold of each other because it seemed to go on for ages, we thought it was an earthquake."We grabbed hold of each other because it seemed to go on for ages, we thought it was an earthquake.
"We tried to get out so opened our front door and there was dust everywhere."We tried to get out so opened our front door and there was dust everywhere.
"We went through the emergency exit but it was full of falling debris."We went through the emergency exit but it was full of falling debris.
"I stepped across a hole in the floor which had bits of metal sticking out of it, I don't know how I did it.""I stepped across a hole in the floor which had bits of metal sticking out of it, I don't know how I did it."