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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Search after derelict Launceston chapel collapses | Search after derelict Launceston chapel collapses |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescue teams have searched debris after a derelict chapel collapsed. | |
| Castle Street in Launceston, Cornwall, was cordoned off after emergency services were called to the town centre building at 00:30 GMT on Thursday. | |
| Search dogs and thermal imaging cameras were used to see if anyone had been trapped in the debris but no-one was found, Cornwall Fire Service said. | Search dogs and thermal imaging cameras were used to see if anyone had been trapped in the debris but no-one was found, Cornwall Fire Service said. |
| Fire crews said the area would remain closed for "some considerable time". Police were also called to the scene. | Fire crews said the area would remain closed for "some considerable time". Police were also called to the scene. |
| The roof collapse pushed out the walls of the building, resulting in rubble falling into the street, fire officers said. | The roof collapse pushed out the walls of the building, resulting in rubble falling into the street, fire officers said. |
| The search was carried out because it was feared rough sleepers could have been trapped. | The search was carried out because it was feared rough sleepers could have been trapped. |
| Incident commander Martin Wingrove, of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said there was "quite a lot of damage" and a "large amount of rubble". | Incident commander Martin Wingrove, of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said there was "quite a lot of damage" and a "large amount of rubble". |
| 'Carnage' concern | 'Carnage' concern |
| "I was quite concerned that someone had broken in and was living there," he said. "We went into full-blown rescue mode, just in case." | |
| He added he was "not sure what the stability was" of the 40m by 20m (130ft by 65ft) building before the collapse. | He added he was "not sure what the stability was" of the 40m by 20m (130ft by 65ft) building before the collapse. |
| Nearby resident Keith Lewis, who alerted police, told BBC Cornwall: "I heard this terrible rumbling, and, as I looked out of the window, I saw white dust and rocks on the floor." | Nearby resident Keith Lewis, who alerted police, told BBC Cornwall: "I heard this terrible rumbling, and, as I looked out of the window, I saw white dust and rocks on the floor." |
| Mr Lewis, who said the building had been empty for at least the three years he had lived nearby, added he was "surprised it hasn't happened before". | Mr Lewis, who said the building had been empty for at least the three years he had lived nearby, added he was "surprised it hasn't happened before". |
| "I felt rumblings on Sunday," he said. "I thought it was kids playing with fireworks. It does echo up this road. | "I felt rumblings on Sunday," he said. "I thought it was kids playing with fireworks. It does echo up this road. |
| "I am just pleased it happened in the middle of the night when there were no school kids about as that could have been carnage." | "I am just pleased it happened in the middle of the night when there were no school kids about as that could have been carnage." |
| Officers from Cornwall Council's building control services are inspecting the chapel, which had been up for sale, the fire service said. | Officers from Cornwall Council's building control services are inspecting the chapel, which had been up for sale, the fire service said. |