Panic in Sydney’s Burwood as 10-storey building partially collapses sparking the evacuation of hundreds of residents and office workers
A 10-storey building has partially collapsed at a demolition site in Sydney’s inner west, sparking the evacuation of hundreds of office workers and residents.
The building fell onto an excavator, which is now propping the structure up, just after 3pm on Wednesday.
A worker is inside the cabin of the excavator. He is safe and able to get out, but he has been told to stay put for the structural integrity of the building, Fire Rescue NSW said.
‘Areas started to collapse which has caused issues with the scaffolding as well, the risk is collapsing onto public roads or people being hurt, or it actually falling into harm’s way,’ FRNSW Superintendent Josh Turner said.
‘The excavator was put into position to actually support the building and the scaffolding… It’s there as a precaution if it starts to move it can actually take a bit of the load from that.’
Mr Turner said the man is not at risk of injury. ‘It’s an enclosed cabin …
‘Ideally it’s not there to have buildings collapse upon them, but he has a level of protection around him.’
The building reportedly became unstable during the demolition process, causing it to fall, taking scaffolding with it.
The 10-storey building fell onto an excavator, which is now propping the structure up, just after 3pm on Wednesday
A worker is inside the cabin of the excavator. He is safe and able to get out, but he has been told to stay put for the structural integrity of the building
‘We have specialist recuse crews attending including our heavy rescue,’ Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Superintendent Mat Sigmund said.
‘We are assessing the situation and engaging engineers and experts… It will be an ongoing incident.’
The NSW Police are also on site.
An operation is underway to manage the fallen sections of the building.
More to come…
