Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DRONE STORES
BELFAST YESTERDAY
A DRONE was deployed at the gutted Primark store yesterday as experts assessed damage at the historic building.
A team wearing high-vis Sky Watch Search & Rescue vests worked alongside firefighters to establish the full extent of the devastation.
Images from the scene in Belfast city centre showed the small aerial device hovering around what is left of The Bank Buildings.
Sky Watch’s Paul Trimble told the Mirror they were called in by the fire service to help give the building a “structural assessment”.
He added the drone footage will be studied by specialists to ensure the safety of both firefighters and the building.
Mr Trimble said issues being monitored include “bowing” in walls or structures in the building.
The move came as sources indicated the front facade may be stable enough to save.
However, it is understood at least one column, along the Castle Street side, has bowed leading to concerns it may be unstable.
It was confirmed yesterday the building was still burning after it went up in flames on Tuesday, with firefighters continuing to tackle “pockets” within the structure.
A fire service spokesperson said operations had been scaled back, but revealed there had been further structural collapse with one appliance due to remain at the scene overnight. Earlier, Lord Mayor