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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| One trapped as building collapses | One trapped as building collapses |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One person has been injured and another man remains trapped after the top two floors of a five-storey building in central London collapsed. | One person has been injured and another man remains trapped after the top two floors of a five-storey building in central London collapsed. |
| The emergency services were called to Dean Farrar Street in Westminster at 1604 BST on Tuesday. | The emergency services were called to Dean Farrar Street in Westminster at 1604 BST on Tuesday. |
| The building, which is being renovated, houses the office of Labour chair Hazel Blears, none of whose staff was hurt. | The building, which is being renovated, houses the office of Labour chair Hazel Blears, none of whose staff was hurt. |
| Police said structural failure may have been to blame and it was down to "good fortune" that it was not more serious. | Police said structural failure may have been to blame and it was down to "good fortune" that it was not more serious. |
| Commander Steve Allen, of City of Westminster Police, said: "There's no evidence at this early stage that the damage has been caused by an explosion." | Commander Steve Allen, of City of Westminster Police, said: "There's no evidence at this early stage that the damage has been caused by an explosion." |
| He added that officers and rescue crews were operating under "extremely hazardous conditions" and there was still considerable risk from falling debris. | He added that officers and rescue crews were operating under "extremely hazardous conditions" and there was still considerable risk from falling debris. |
| Six fire engines and 50 firefighters were sent to the scene. | Six fire engines and 50 firefighters were sent to the scene. |
| In Pictures: Building collapse | |
| Mr Allen said rescue services were in contact with the trapped man, believed to be a builder. | Mr Allen said rescue services were in contact with the trapped man, believed to be a builder. |
| London Fire Brigade spokesman Brendan McAlone said specialist urban search and rescue teams were assessing how to free him. | London Fire Brigade spokesman Brendan McAlone said specialist urban search and rescue teams were assessing how to free him. |
| He said they were trying to shore up the second floor of the building and planned to make small holes in the ceiling to allow them to insert a camera and listening device to locate the man. | |
| Mr McAlone said it was too soon to know the extent of his injuries or when he might be rescued. | |
| I was just sitting in the office when all of a sudden the whole building shook Justin Linger | |
| A London Fire Brigade spokesman said teams were also examining the situation from above to see if debris on him could be removed. | |
| He said they were trying to avoid any "rash action" which could cause further collapse and lead to further casualties. | |
| Meanwhile, sources on the ground said fire crews were using heat-seeking equipment to check whether any more people were trapped. | Meanwhile, sources on the ground said fire crews were using heat-seeking equipment to check whether any more people were trapped. |
| 'Showering down' | 'Showering down' |
| Eyewitness Anthony Gilberthorpe told BBC News 24: "It happened just so very quick one didn't know what to do. | Eyewitness Anthony Gilberthorpe told BBC News 24: "It happened just so very quick one didn't know what to do. |
| "I heard a mighty explosion and about two floors and the roof of a building to my left hand side was literally showering down in front of me. | "I heard a mighty explosion and about two floors and the roof of a building to my left hand side was literally showering down in front of me. |
| "So I literally threw myself, literally jumped up and threw myself, to the right hand side of the road not knowing whether I was going to be hit." | "So I literally threw myself, literally jumped up and threw myself, to the right hand side of the road not knowing whether I was going to be hit." |
| Mr Gilberthorpe saw a van driver step out of his vehicle moments before it was hit by a huge piece of debris. | Mr Gilberthorpe saw a van driver step out of his vehicle moments before it was hit by a huge piece of debris. |
| "What I did see which was quite shocking was a huge boulder went right through his vehicle, literally where he had been 15 seconds previously and I think that's the most frightening thing that I actually witnessed. | "What I did see which was quite shocking was a huge boulder went right through his vehicle, literally where he had been 15 seconds previously and I think that's the most frightening thing that I actually witnessed. |
| 'Calm evacuation' | 'Calm evacuation' |
| A spokesman for Ms Blears, who is running for the deputy Labour leadership, said she spent several hours in her offices on the fourth and fifth floors with six other MPs at lunchtime today. | A spokesman for Ms Blears, who is running for the deputy Labour leadership, said she spent several hours in her offices on the fourth and fifth floors with six other MPs at lunchtime today. |
| Six of her campaign volunteers were in the offices, part of the Queen's Gate building, at the time of the collapse. | Six of her campaign volunteers were in the offices, part of the Queen's Gate building, at the time of the collapse. |
| One of them, Sean Newman, said: "Some of us who were upstairs felt the building shake. | One of them, Sean Newman, said: "Some of us who were upstairs felt the building shake. |
| "Then we heard the alarm go off and left our stuff to go downstairs. It was a calm evacuation, but they would not let us go back in." | "Then we heard the alarm go off and left our stuff to go downstairs. It was a calm evacuation, but they would not let us go back in." |
| He estimated that there were around 50 businesses based in the premises. | He estimated that there were around 50 businesses based in the premises. |
| Justin Linger was also working in the building at the time of the collapse. | Justin Linger was also working in the building at the time of the collapse. |
| "I was just sitting in the office when all of a sudden the whole building shook," he told BBC News 24. | "I was just sitting in the office when all of a sudden the whole building shook," he told BBC News 24. |
| "As one of my colleagues put it, the building disco danced." | "As one of my colleagues put it, the building disco danced." |
| Scotland Yard said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would be responsible for determining the cause of the collapse. | Scotland Yard said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would be responsible for determining the cause of the collapse. |
Do you have any pictures? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Do you have any pictures? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |