London crane collapse leaves one person dead as houses crushed with people trapped inside
ONE person has died after a crane collapsed in east London at a building site, crushing two houses and a block of flats under development, as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Bow: Crane collapses over houses in East London
Video footage emerged of a crane collapsing in east London at a building site. The crane collapsed onto two houses and onto flats under development near Compton Close in Bow, east London. Firefighters rushed to the scene, amid reports of people being trapped. The emergency service said, "crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation". Four people were injured in the incident, and two have been taken to hospital. London Ambulance Service later confirmed one person has since died. The London Fire Brigade added there were reports that “at least one person may be unaccounted for”.
London Fire Brigade said they received 14 calls in relation to the crane collapsing. They have also urged people to "avoid the area".
London Fire Brigade wrote on Twitter: “We've taken fourteen 999 calls to reports of a crane that has collapsed onto a building in Gale Street, Bow.”
They later added: “20-meter crane has collapsed onto a terraced house in Bow.
“Fire crews are working to free people trapped inside”.
Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis said: "A 20-meter crane has collapsed onto a block of flats under development and into two terraced houses on Compton Close.
"Our Urban Search and Rescue crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation and using specialist equipment to search the properties.
"This is a multi-agency response and is likely to be a protracted incident. I would ask people to avoid the area."
The Brigade deployed a drone to provide aerial imagery to aid with the rescue.
The London Ambulance Service said they have treated four people at the scene and two were taken to hospital.
They added: “We have so far treated four people at the scene. Two of these patients were treated for head injuries and taken to hospital.
“We assessed the other two patients but did not take them to hospital. We are working closely with our emergency services colleagues and remain on scene.”
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Fire crews from Plumstead, Whitechapel, Stratford and surrounding stations attended the incident.
According to a witness, the crane collapsed through a building in east London.
The witness claimed that one man was initially crushed during the incident before he was assisted by fire and ambulance services.
The witness wrote on Twitter: “Man under crane has been released and being treated by ambulance.”
London Ambulance Service also confirmed they were on the scene.
They wrote on Twitter: “We have a number of crews and specialist resources including @LAS_HART
on scene at an incident in Watts Grove in #Bow, east London, where a crane has collapsed. More information to follow.”
More to follow...