Several buildings in a city center were evacuated today after witnesses reported feeling tremors similar to an earthquake when a section of a tower block collapsed. The incident occurred near Bridge Street in Manchester’s city center, where the building, set for demolition, experienced a sudden partial collapse.
A local resident described the event as resembling a strong earthquake, prompting emergency services to respond swiftly and clear out nearby structures. Bruntwood SciTech, the developers overseeing the site, confirmed the partial collapse at Alberton House, which is currently undergoing demolition. They assured that safety protocols were in place to prevent risks to personnel, neighboring buildings, or the public.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation mentioned that no injuries were reported in the incident and cautioned against premature conclusions about the cause. The Health and Safety Executive stated that they are actively monitoring the situation in Manchester in coordination with emergency services.
Despite ongoing demolition work at the site, the reason behind the collapse remains uncertain. The building that collapsed, Alberton House, was slated for development, with a new project named “The Alberton” planned to replace it. The construction, managed by UK property giant Bruntwood, aims to introduce an 18-storey office building with a rooftop pool as a landmark feature.
Witnesses observed one side of the building collapsing, causing scaffolding to tumble into the nearby River Irwell. A nearby business owner had to evacuate around 500 individuals due to safety concerns arising from the incident.
New images from the scene illustrate the aftermath of the collapse, showing the building nearly folded over with scaffolding cascading towards the street level. Emergency services, including the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, responded promptly to the incident, ensuring no injuries were reported.
As investigations continue, it is yet to be determined if the collapse resulted from scaffolding failure. The incident has sparked concerns over safety measures and the future development plans for the affected area.