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| Sydney Opal Tower: Thousands evacuated after 'crack' | Sydney Opal Tower: Thousands evacuated after 'crack' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| As many as 3,000 people have been evacuated after residents of a newly completed tower block in Australia reported hearing "cracking noises". | As many as 3,000 people have been evacuated after residents of a newly completed tower block in Australia reported hearing "cracking noises". |
| Police confirmed they had found a crack in the 33-storey Opal Tower, in Sydney Olympic Park, following reports of the noise on the 10th floor. | Police confirmed they had found a crack in the 33-storey Opal Tower, in Sydney Olympic Park, following reports of the noise on the 10th floor. |
| Engineers said the high-rise tower has moved up to 2mm, local media reported. | Engineers said the high-rise tower has moved up to 2mm, local media reported. |
| A 1km (0.6 mile) evacuation zone, which also affected other buildings, was put in place amid safety fears. | A 1km (0.6 mile) evacuation zone, which also affected other buildings, was put in place amid safety fears. |
| An email to residents of a nearby apartment block said the evacuation had been ordered because "there is a potential for the tower to collapse", according to the Sydney Morning Herald. | An email to residents of a nearby apartment block said the evacuation had been ordered because "there is a potential for the tower to collapse", according to the Sydney Morning Herald. |
| Specialists were due to enter the 10th floor to inspect the crack and assess whether the building was safe, Greg White, a spokesman for New South Wales Fire And Rescue, told reporters. | Specialists were due to enter the 10th floor to inspect the crack and assess whether the building was safe, Greg White, a spokesman for New South Wales Fire And Rescue, told reporters. |
| He said police had been called at about 14:35 local time (03:45 GMT) about a "loud crack". | He said police had been called at about 14:35 local time (03:45 GMT) about a "loud crack". |
| "They attended, identified there was a crack in the building and they called for Fire And Rescue assistance," he said. | "They attended, identified there was a crack in the building and they called for Fire And Rescue assistance," he said. |
| "We've attended and police and Fire And Rescue evacuated up to 3,000 people from the building and the surrounding areas." | "We've attended and police and Fire And Rescue evacuated up to 3,000 people from the building and the surrounding areas." |
| The Opal Tower, which was completed earlier this year, was described by developer Ecove when the design was first unveiled as "a curvaceous, triangular-shaped building with green walls of living plants embedded into the façade, and elevated communal courtyards every five levels". | The Opal Tower, which was completed earlier this year, was described by developer Ecove when the design was first unveiled as "a curvaceous, triangular-shaped building with green walls of living plants embedded into the façade, and elevated communal courtyards every five levels". |
| It boasts 392 flats. | It boasts 392 flats. |
| An Ecove spokesman said it was aware of the "concerns" and had "notified" the builder, the Morning Herald said. | An Ecove spokesman said it was aware of the "concerns" and had "notified" the builder, the Morning Herald said. |