One person was been confirmed dead and four others injured when a crane collapsed at a building site in Bow, east London, on Wednesday, emergency services said.
The 20-metre crane fell onto a site where flats were being constructed and two adjacent terraced houses, the London Fire Brigade said.
Two of the injured were treated for head injuries and were taken to hospital and the other two patients were assessed at the scene, the London Ambulance service said.
“Sadly, despite the efforts of emergency services, a fifth person has been found and died at the scene,” it said.
According to the report by Evening Standard, a student Antony Small, 22, who lives next to the construction site in Devons Road, told the Evening Standard he thought an “earthquake” was happening.
“The whole building was shaking and there was this loud screeching metal sound. I didn’t know what way it was going to fall so I just sort of braced for an impact.
“It was so loud when it hit the building and you could hear all the smashing tiles and rubble. The whole building site was shouting and swearing. It was frightening.”
Lukasz Waligra who lives opposite the building site, said: “It was a horrible sound of screeching metal and then a crash.
“I never thought something like this could happen. There has to be an investigation.”
Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis said the 20-metre crane collapsed onto a block of flats under development and into terraced houses on Compton Close.
“Our Urban Search and Rescue crews undertook a complex rescue operation and used specialist equipment to search the properties,” he said.
“Sadly one woman died at the scene. The London Ambulance Service have confirmed that two people were taken to hospital with head injuries and a further two were treated at the scene.
“This is a multi-agency response and is likely to be a protracted incident. I would ask people to avoid the area.”
The London Fire Brigade said it had received 14 999 calls about the fallen crane and has asked people to avoid the area.
The firefighters have deployed a drone to obtain aerial imagery to aid with the rescue.