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Man injured as Holborn building collapses | Man injured as Holborn building collapses |
(less than a minute earlier) | |
A building has collapsed in central London, injuring a man. | A building has collapsed in central London, injuring a man. |
The 56-year-old was taken to hospital with head and hip injuries after part of the building collapsed in Portugal Street, Holborn at about 16:15 BST. | The 56-year-old was taken to hospital with head and hip injuries after part of the building collapsed in Portugal Street, Holborn at about 16:15 BST. |
About 200 people from the building site and nearby properties were evacuated from the area and hazard response teams attended the scene. | About 200 people from the building site and nearby properties were evacuated from the area and hazard response teams attended the scene. |
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the building was being demolished at the time of its collapse. | London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the building was being demolished at the time of its collapse. |
Station Manager John Snelgrove, who was at the scene, said: "When the first crews arrived they found the building, which was under refurbishment, had collapsed between the fifth and second floors." | Station Manager John Snelgrove, who was at the scene, said: "When the first crews arrived they found the building, which was under refurbishment, had collapsed between the fifth and second floors." |
About 31 firefighters attended the scene. | About 31 firefighters attended the scene. |
Eyewitness Murat Akkulak, a research co-ordinator at the Royal College of Surgeons, said the building was being demolished "layer by layer". | Eyewitness Murat Akkulak, a research co-ordinator at the Royal College of Surgeons, said the building was being demolished "layer by layer". |
He said: "There was a lot of dust but I could see there was a digger down amongst the rubble and one or two builders were running around trying to get someone out of the digger. | He said: "There was a lot of dust but I could see there was a digger down amongst the rubble and one or two builders were running around trying to get someone out of the digger. |
"The operator seemed to be trapped in the digger. | "The operator seemed to be trapped in the digger. |
"When I checked the photos I had taken I saw there were two people standing on the upper layer looking down. | "When I checked the photos I had taken I saw there were two people standing on the upper layer looking down. |
"They seem to have had a really lucky escape to me, because everything else had just collapsed around them." | "They seem to have had a really lucky escape to me, because everything else had just collapsed around them." |
Jade Harrison, who works opposite, said: "There was a big crash and everyone was wondering what was going on. | Jade Harrison, who works opposite, said: "There was a big crash and everyone was wondering what was going on. |
"The first thing that went through everyone's head was that it was a terrorist attack. Then we saw there had been a mishap with the construction. It was so unexpected." | "The first thing that went through everyone's head was that it was a terrorist attack. Then we saw there had been a mishap with the construction. It was so unexpected." |
A cabbie, who only gave his name as Ed, was parked nearby and said: "It sounded like a plane to begin with, then it kept rumbling on. | A cabbie, who only gave his name as Ed, was parked nearby and said: "It sounded like a plane to begin with, then it kept rumbling on. |
"Then it sounded like a train and then there was a massive amount of dust coming round the corner from Portugal Street." | "Then it sounded like a train and then there was a massive amount of dust coming round the corner from Portugal Street." |
The Health and Safety Executive has been informed. | The Health and Safety Executive has been informed. |
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