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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Building caves in for second time | Building caves in for second time |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Part of a high street in the West Midlands has been cordoned off after a building collapsed for the second time. | Part of a high street in the West Midlands has been cordoned off after a building collapsed for the second time. |
| A wall and scaffolding of the Bairstow Eves estate agents on West Bromwich's High Street caved in at just before 1200 GMT on Tuesday. | A wall and scaffolding of the Bairstow Eves estate agents on West Bromwich's High Street caved in at just before 1200 GMT on Tuesday. |
| There was no one in the building and there have been no casualties, the fire service said. | There was no one in the building and there have been no casualties, the fire service said. |
| When it caved in construction work was taking place following June's collapse when builder Lakhvir Singh, 47, died. | When it caved in construction work was taking place following June's collapse when builder Lakhvir Singh, 47, died. |
| Evacuated shops | Evacuated shops |
| The High Street was shut between Carters Green island and Dartmouth Street, and was expected to be closed until early evening. | The High Street was shut between Carters Green island and Dartmouth Street, and was expected to be closed until early evening. |
| West Midlands Fire Service said one side wall and scaffolding measuring 20m by 10m fell towards the basement in the latest incident. | West Midlands Fire Service said one side wall and scaffolding measuring 20m by 10m fell towards the basement in the latest incident. |
| Firefighters were carrying out a search and rescue operation as a precaution, but were not expecting to find anyone. | Firefighters were carrying out a search and rescue operation as a precaution, but were not expecting to find anyone. |
| Sarah Warnes, a West Midlands Fire Service station commander, said: "When the fire service arrived they evacuated shops either side as a precaution. | Sarah Warnes, a West Midlands Fire Service station commander, said: "When the fire service arrived they evacuated shops either side as a precaution. |
| "At the time we were unable to ascertain if all persons were accounted for so therefore we are carrying out a search of the area." | "At the time we were unable to ascertain if all persons were accounted for so therefore we are carrying out a search of the area." |
| The fire service later said all persons were accounted for. | |
| Search teams left the scene and structural engineers from Sandwell Council arrived to investigate the cause of the collapse. | |
| Cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Bob Badham, said there was no danger to the public. | |
| He said: "It is a private building and it is not believed that anyone was inside but occasionally people do use buildings like this to sleep rough. | He said: "It is a private building and it is not believed that anyone was inside but occasionally people do use buildings like this to sleep rough. |
| "As a result the fire brigade is bringing in two dogs to double-check that no one was on the premises at the time the wall collapsed." | "As a result the fire brigade is bringing in two dogs to double-check that no one was on the premises at the time the wall collapsed." |
| Mr Singh was confirmed dead by paramedics after he was discovered on the ground floor of the building when its roof collapsed in June. | |
| He was thought to have lived at the property, which comprised of an estate agent on the ground floor and two residential floors above. | |
| />Did you witness the collapse? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
Did you witness the collapse? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |