A construction worker has been injured after a building collapsed in central London.
Emergency services were called shortly after 4pm to the scene on the junction of Portugal Street and Serle Street in the Holborn / Aldwych area after the collapse of a six-storey building.
Workers nearby said they heard a "deafening rumble" as debris crashed to the ground, smashing the windows of cars parked nearby.
A 56-year-old man was taken to the Royal London Hospital having suffered head and hip injuries.
Police described the incident as a "partial building collapse on a building site".
The building is currently under demolition and part of the building’s structure, as well as the scaffolding surrounding it, collapsed.
Around 100 people were evacuated from the building site and a further 100 people were evacuated from neighbouring properties as a precaution.
Firefighters put safety cordons in place.
London Fire Brigade was called at 4.14pm. Two fire engines from Soho, three fire rescue units from East Ham, Edmonton and Heston and around 30 firefighters and officers attended the incident as well as other emergency services.
A spokesman for the brigade said scaffolding on four floors of the building collapsed.
He said: "It is very fortunate when as much debris falls from such a height that no one was more seriously injured."
A police spokesman said the Health and Safety Executive has been informed and added that roads were closed.
A spokeswoman for the London Ambulance Service (LAS) said two ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team were sent to the incident.
We've been called to reports of scaffolding collapsed on Serle Street in #Aldwych. More soon. pic.twitter.com/VO9xuJWz15
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 20, 2015
Part of a building under demolition has collapsed in #Aldwych. 200 people evacuated from the area. photo © @PDWarwick pic.twitter.com/Ym2a0Xb2ar
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 20, 2015
Serious building collapse on Portugal street, Holborn. Really hoping there aren't any casualties. @standardnews pic.twitter.com/u0Bc1J5uAc
— Mary-Anne Constable (@little_mac88) April 20, 2015
Major building works calapsed Portugal Street London WC2 pic.twitter.com/Mu4nxfm9e7
— Gary Bixley (@garybixley) April 20, 2015
Building collapses on #PortugalStreet near #LSE -- helicopter landing in Lincoln's Inn, large crash pic.twitter.com/wJBfPEoHev
— R.Boyd (@rodmanboyd) April 20, 2015
Building collapses opp my office window! Deafening rumble then the side just dropped slowly as I watched #Aldwych pic.twitter.com/2fIUChT3jv
— Emma (@Emtave) April 20, 2015
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