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Apollo Theatre: Ceiling collapse injures 76 people Apollo Theatre collapse: 'Fortunate more people not hurt'
(about 1 hour later)
Investigators are trying establish why part of a ceiling collapsed at a central London theatre injuring 76 people, seven of them seriously. It is lucky more people were not injured when part of a ceiling collapsed at a packed theatre, London Fire Brigade has said.
About 10 sq m of ornate plasterwork at the Apollo fell on to the audience during a production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. Seventy six people were hurt when ornate plasterwork at the Apollo fell during a production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.
Some reports suggested water dripped through cracks in the West End venue's ceiling before it came down. Reports suggested water dripped through ceiling cracks before it fell.
The theatre's owner described the incident as "shocking and upsetting". Westminster City Council is expected to report later on a structural assessment of the 112-year-old West End theatre.
'It was horrific''It was horrific'
Westminster City Council is expected to report later on a structural assessment of the Shaftesbury Avenue venue. One line of inquiry will be the effect of adverse weather on the Grade II-listed building on Shaftesbury Avenue.
One line of inquiry will be the effect of adverse weather on the 100-year-old, Grade II-listed building.
There was a thunderstorm and a heavy rain burst in London on Thursday evening with a high number of lightning strikes across the capital.There was a thunderstorm and a heavy rain burst in London on Thursday evening with a high number of lightning strikes across the capital.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis of the London Fire Brigade said the plasterwork had fallen on to the upper circle, the dress circle and the stalls. Seven of those hurt during the collapse were said to have serious injuries. Two people remain in hospital.
He said: "The injuries to the casualties that our colleagues have spoken about are consistent with that." Nick Harding from London Fire Brigade said: "I think it's fortunate that more people weren't injured by this.
"I've never seen anything like this in my 19 years in the fire service.
"It's a testament to all the emergency services, including the fire brigade, who were very quickly able to get people out of the building."
The collapse happened at 20:15 GMT on Thursday when the theatre was almost full, with 720 people watching the performance.The collapse happened at 20:15 GMT on Thursday when the theatre was almost full, with 720 people watching the performance.
Of the 76 injured, 58 were taken to four London hospitals. There were no life-threatening injuries. Chris Edwards and his son and daughter-in-law were among those injured.
Chris Edwards' son and daughter-in-law were injured and remain in hospital.
Mr Edwards said: "I first heard cracking, then looked up to see a big part of the roof coming down. It was horrific.Mr Edwards said: "I first heard cracking, then looked up to see a big part of the roof coming down. It was horrific.
"Larger pieces hit my younger son and he's still in hospital with a broken collar bone and suspected damage to his spine."Larger pieces hit my younger son and he's still in hospital with a broken collar bone and suspected damage to his spine.
"I tried to cover my daughter-in-law, who is pregnant, to protect her but some of the debris fell on her back. Thankfully she and the baby are safe."I tried to cover my daughter-in-law, who is pregnant, to protect her but some of the debris fell on her back. Thankfully she and the baby are safe.
"I have cuts and bruises myself, but we believe we have been very lucky. But I am really angry about this too. It was so lucky that someone wasn't killed.""I have cuts and bruises myself, but we believe we have been very lucky. But I am really angry about this too. It was so lucky that someone wasn't killed."
Dermot Kavanagh was sitting in the balcony.Dermot Kavanagh was sitting in the balcony.
"The whole row stood up and there were suppressed murmurs and shrieks and shortly after that there was this large ornate ceiling rose with a chandelier in the middle just came down and a huge brownish grey cloud of dust came up from the stalls," he said."The whole row stood up and there were suppressed murmurs and shrieks and shortly after that there was this large ornate ceiling rose with a chandelier in the middle just came down and a huge brownish grey cloud of dust came up from the stalls," he said.
'Swift and effective''Swift and effective'
The emergency response included 25 ambulance crews, an air ambulance rapid response team, eight fire engines and more than 50 firefighters. Police were also in attendance. Mark Haddon, author of the book on which the play is based, tweeted: "It's been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening. I'm hugely relieved that no-one has died."
The emergency response included 25 ambulance crews, an air ambulance rapid response team, police officers and eight fire engines with more than 50 firefighters.
Three London buses were commandeered to take patients to hospital.Three London buses were commandeered to take patients to hospital.
Witnesses said the emergency services were at the scene within minutes. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust said 34 adults and five children were treated in accident and emergency at St Thomas' Hospital.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust said 34 adults and five children were treated in accident and emergency, at St Thomas' Hospital.
The majority had cuts and bruises but a small number had fractures. The three most seriously hurt victims had injuries to their neck and back, or head.The majority had cuts and bruises but a small number had fractures. The three most seriously hurt victims had injuries to their neck and back, or head.
A spokesman for Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo, said an investigation was under way and "thoughts are with the audience and staff".
'Extremely rare''Extremely rare'
Mark Haddon, author of the book on which the play is based, tweeted: "It's been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening. I'm hugely relieved that no-one has died." Nimax, the theatre's owner described the incident as "shocking and upsetting" and said its "thoughts are with the audience and staff".
Mhora Samuel from The Theatres Trust said: "Thankfully occurrences of theatre ceiling and plasterwork collapse are extremely rare. Mhora Samuel, from The Theatres Trust, said: "Thankfully occurrences of theatre ceiling and plasterwork collapse are extremely rare.
"The public should be reassured that theatre owners carry out regular plasterwork inspections and maintenance regimes to ensure the safety of their buildings.""The public should be reassured that theatre owners carry out regular plasterwork inspections and maintenance regimes to ensure the safety of their buildings."
A statement from the Society of London Theatre said all the major theatre owners had confirmed their safety inspections and certificates were up to date and all other London theatres remain open for business. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) said all the major theatre owners had confirmed their safety inspections and certificates were up to date and all other London theatres remained open for business.
Performances at the Apollo have been cancelled until 4 January and customers should contact their point of purchase to arrange exchanges or refunds, said SOLT.
'Significant renovation''Significant renovation'
Mark Field, Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster said: "Clearly quite a lot of Theatreland does go back 100 years or more.Mark Field, Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster said: "Clearly quite a lot of Theatreland does go back 100 years or more.
"There's been a significant programme of renovation in the last 10 years but given that we've got 40 or 50 theatres in the whole West End clearly it won't have applied necessarily to every one of them. "There's been a significant programme of renovation in the last 10 years, but given that we've got 40 or 50 theatres in the whole West End clearly it won't have applied necessarily to every one of them."
He said he was sure all theatres would "have a good look at their infrastructure" over the next couple of days.
Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for business and enterprise, said: "This is an awful incident but we haven't seen anything similar to this before so there's no reason to think necessarily that we should in the future.
He added that he hoped surveyors would make sure everything was safe for the rest of the season.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time has been running in London since August 2012.The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time has been running in London since August 2012.
The show started at the National Theatre, before transferring to the Apollo in March this year.The show started at the National Theatre, before transferring to the Apollo in March this year.
The Society of London Theatre said Friday and Saturday performances have been cancelled and customers should contact their point of purchase to arrange exchanges or refunds. Nimax Theatres also runs the Garrick, Duchess and Vaudeville theatres.
The Apollo was built in 1901 and has 775 seats over four levels. Nimax Theatres also runs the Garrick, Duchess and Vaudeville theatres.
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