Dozens of people evacuated as houses collapse
FIREFIGHTERS SECURE AREA IN EXCLUSIVE STREET
HOMES on an exclusive Chelsea street, where houses sell for millions of pounds, have completely collapsed in a dramatic crush.
Dozens of people living in neighbouring homes were evacuated as fire crews rushed to Durham Place at 11.34pm on Monday November 2.
Construction work has been taking place on the two mid-terraced houses where all four floors collapsed to the ground. It is understood the work was being done to convert the homes into one.
Around 40 people were evacuated from neighbouring properties and a 25-metre cordon was put in place as a precaution by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Police officers set up a cordon on the street, where houses have been sold for as much as £16 million in recent years, according to Right Move.
The London Fire Brigade’s Urban Search and Rescue crews worked through the night to make the scene safe and at this stage there are no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Jason Jones, who was at the scene, said: “There was a total collapse of the building from the roof to ground level.
“Firefighters worked to make the scene safe and our drone team carried out a search.
“A police search dog also carried out an external search of the building and at this stage, there are no reports of any injuries. Nobody is thought to have been inside the building at the time of the collapse. Local road closures will remain in place on Tuesday morning (November 3).”
Firefighters were initially on the scene until 2.13am on the Tuesday. Crews from Chelsea, Battersea, Sutton and Croydon fire stations all worked together to make the area safe.