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Breaking News: Four injured as building site crane collapses onto two houses in Bow
Compton Close... 60ft crane has collapsed onto two houses and a new block of flats. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A huge crane has toppled over and crashed onto a house in Bromley-by-Bow trapping several people.
House in Compton Close with the crane crashed through the roof. Picture: Sid Rahman - Credit: Sid Rahman
Emergency services arrived at Compton Close, off Watts Grove, and have closed off the area while rescue operations get under way at adjoining terraced houses where the roof is said to have collapsed.
Eye-witness Dave Aylwood dialed 999 when he heard the crashing structure.
“I was talking to a neighbour when we heard a huge crumpled bang,” he told the East London Advertiser.
Collapsed crane also tore through a block of flats being built next to Compton Close. Picture: Sid Rahman - Credit: Sid Rahman
“The gantry crane on the building site opposite is on its side. I called the emergency services.
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“There’s a huge hole in the house where the crane went through.”
The 60ft crane crashed on to the houses at around 2.40pm, the Fire Brigade said. Fire crews are working to free people trapped inside.
Paramedics who specialise in life saving treatment were at the scene. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire - Credit: PA
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There are reports of that least one person may be missing and unaccounted for in the houses.
Two people have been taken to hospital with head injuries and another two were treated at the scene, the Ambulance Service has confirmed.
Rescue crews were sent in from Poplar, Whitechapel and Stratford fire stations, with the Fire Brigade also using a drone overhead for aerial imagery to help the rescue operation.
The collapsed crane left people trapped inside one of the houses. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire - Credit: PA
The fire brigade initially received 14 emergency calls from the public reporting that a crane had fallen onto a terraced house where part of the roof caved in.
The brigade’s assistant commissioner Graham Ellis said later: “A crane has collapsed on to a block of flats under development and into two terraced houses in Compton Close.
“Our crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation and using specialist equipment to search the properties. This is likely to be a protracted incident.”
Scotland Yard has confirmed the streets around Compton Close, off Watts Grove, have been cordoned off and is advising drivers to avoid the area.
It said in a statement to the Advertiser: “We have received reports of four people suffering injuries. Road closures are in place and police are assisting the local authority.”
Several ambulance crews and specialist resources are also at the scene.
