One person has died after a 65-foot-high crane collapsed in east London this afternoon, injuring at least four others, as firefighters continue to search for any others who might be trapped in the rubble.
Pictures from the scene at a building site on Gale Street in Bow show gaping holes in the roof of houses and through a nearby fence. Several cars were also covered in dust and debris after the crane fell at around 2pm.
London Ambulance Service have confirmed that one person was found and died at the scene. Four others were injured, two were rushed to hospital with head injuries and the others were treated at the scene.
Firefighters are now trying to free at least one person who is believed to be trapped inside one of the two terraced houses struck by the crane.
One person has died after a 65-foot-high crane collapsed in east London this afternoon, injuring at least four others, as firefighters continue to search for any others who might be trapped in the rubble. Pictures from the scene at a building site on Gale Street in Bow show gaping holes in the roof of houses and through a nearby fence. Several cars were also covered in dust and debris after the crane fell at around 2pm.
Two firefighters look down through the collapsed roof of a terraced house after the 65ft high crane collapsed on Wednesday afternoon. It is believed that one person remains unaccounted for and the London Fire Brigade had launched a rescue operation.
The crane appears to have crashed through the roof of the home before falling down to the ground after it collapsed over the top of an incomplete structure surrounded by scaffolding
Basil Long, a 39-year-old housing lawyer, lives opposite the construction site where the crane came down. He said: ‘The crane fell 30 metres away. It fortunately fell the other way on a construction site. It was a real shock, I saw it fall. I had actually been in the bedroom at the time. There was a lot of shouting going on. I literally saw it topple over.’
The mangled crane can be seen bending over the roof of an unfinished building surrounded by scaffolding at the building site in east London
Part of the crane struck the building site and bent scaffolding poles out of place when it came down at around 2pm
Firefighters peer through a window of the terraced house on Wednesday afternoon which left at least four injured
A 65-foot-high crane has collapsed in east London , destroying two houses and leaving four people injured with at least one person trapped in the wreckage
A 20-metre-high crane has collapsed in east London, destroying two houses and leaving four people injured. It is feared more people could be trapped in the wreckage of the two homes
Basil Long, a 39-year-old housing lawyer, lives opposite the construction site where the crane came down.
He said: ‘The crane fell 30 metres away. It fortunately fell the other way on a construction site. It was a real shock, I saw it fall. I had actually been in the bedroom at the time. There was a lot of shouting going on. I literally saw it topple over.
‘It was terrifying. You could see the people in the tower trying to run down as fast as they could.
‘After it came down, the site was evacuated and they got people out. I was evacuated at about 3.45pm. We got a knock on the door and said we
‘I’m still shaking. The newbuild is still being built. Thankfully I don’t think anyone was inside. The warning shouts came early enough that I think people had a chance to get away.’
Neighbour Bridget Teirney said: ‘Crane behind my building just collapsed in Bow, London. At least one man crushed, crane went through 2 house.’
She added that the crane driver has ‘made it down safely’ but that ‘one man, who is responding and being assisted by fire and ambulance is still under the crane.’
A few minutes later she said that the man had been freed and was being taken to hospital.
Pictures from the scene at a building site on Gale Street in Bow show gaping holes in the roof of a house and through a nearby fence
Neighbour Bridget Teirney said: ‘Crane behind my building just collapsed in Bow, London. At least one man crushed, crane went through 2 house’
Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis said that Urban Search and Rescue crews had begun a ‘complex rescue operation’ to search the two properties.
Aerial footage shows how the huge metal structure ripped through the roof into the top floors of the homes, with windows blowing open from the force of the impact.
‘This is a multi-agency response and is likely to be a protracted incident. I would ask people to avoid the area.’
Fire crews have also deployed a drone to provide aerial imagery to aid the rescue operation.
Police have evacuated the surrounding properties and cordoned off the street.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said he was ‘extremely worried’ by the incident.
‘Council teams are on site supporting emergency services and setting up a rest centre for affected residents in the area. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. Priority is to ensure safety but need answers as to how this happened.’
London Fire Brigade said they have received 14 calls to reports of a crane that has collapsed onto a building in Gale Street, Bow
A crane has collapsed in east London reportedly destroying two houses and leaving one man seriously injured
London Fire Brigade said they have received 14 calls to reports of a crane that has collapsed onto a building in Gale Street, Bow.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.42pm today to reports of an incident involving a crane collapsing near Watts Grove, Bow.
‘We dispatched a number of specialist resources including an advanced paramedic, ambulance crews and our hazardous area response teams (HART), with the first of our medics arriving within three minutes.
‘The incident is ongoing and we are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene.’
Emergency services are asking people to stay out of the area.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.42pm today to reports of an incident involving a crane collapsing near Watts Grove, Bow’