Firefighters rescue 13 people after roof over four flats collapsed on upmarket street in Notting Hill as neighbours compare it to ‘bomb going off’
- Firefighters rescued 13 after stair case to street was smashed by falling rubble
- Roof collapse took place at three storey home on Chesterton Road, west London
- The fire service and police were scrambled shortly before 10pm on Sunday night
- No injuries were reported and a police cordon remains in place this morning
Firefighters rescued 13 people after the roof collapsed at a property on an upmarket west London street.
The incident took place at a three storey home on Chesterton Road in Ladbroke Grove, west London.
The London Fire Brigade and the police were scrambled to the upmarket Notting Hill street, where properties are worth more than £1million on average, shortly after 10pm on Sunday night.
Neighbours described the incident ‘like a bomb’ going off after a loud bang was heard, according to The Evening Standard, and rubble and debris was strewn across the street.
A woman in her 80s was understood to be among the 13 people who were taken to safety from the mid-terrace building by fire crews.
They had to be rescued from the building after falling rubble from the caved in roof smashed the staircase leading from the four flats inside the property to the street.
The roof collapse took place at a three storey home, which had been converted into flats, on Chesterton Road in west London shortly before 10pm on Sunday night
A woman in her 80s was understood to be among 13 people who had to be rescued after stair cases in the propety were smashed by falling rubble
Firefighters, who deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment to the scene, used ladders across the missing steps to bring those to safety
Firefighters, who deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment to the scene, used ladders across the missing steps to bring those to safety.
Station Commander Brett Loft, who was at the scene, said: ‘Four properties were affected by the collapse, which involved part of the front of the parapet wall at roof level.
‘The debris had collapsed onto the front steps of the properties and had trapped people inside.
‘Firefighters led 13 people from different flats within the building to safety using ladders to bridge the gap across the steps. Fortunately no one was injured.’
Four fire engines were disapteched to the scene from Kensington, Paddington and Battersea fire stations.
Another three fire rescue units were also sent from Edmonton, Croydon and Heston while several London Fire Brigade support vehicles were also visible at the scene.
A British Transport Police drone was also used to assist the Fire Service in checking on the structural safeness of the homes, while a thermal imaging camera was also flown to check other properties for movement.
One nearby resident told The Evening Standard: ‘It was like a huge explosion, like a bomb had dropped. The whole road was covered in dust and everyone just ran out of their homes. It was absolutely shocking.’
Another told the publication it was a ‘miracle’ no one was killed in the incident.
London Fire Brigade deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment, while a British Transport Police drone was used to assist the Fire Service in checking on the structural safeness of the homes
A Thermal imaging camera was also flown above the converted property to check other properties for movement
A large scene was put in place and various roads near to the property were cordoned off by officers from the Met Police
A large scene was put in place and various roads near to the property were cordoned off by the force. Some of these closures remain in place this morning.
A spokesperson for the Met Police told Mail Online: ‘Policewere called at around 2150hrs on Sunday, 4 July, to the partial collapse ofroofs at two residential properties in Chesterton Road, W10.
‘Officersattended along with LFB and LAS. Thereare no reported injuries. Cordonsremain in place at the location.’
The London Ambulance team were also mobilised to the incident and have been contacted for comment. The woman was freed using a turntable ladder.
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