Rescue bid after London building collapse

10:26am Wednesday 14th February 2007

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RESCUE workers have been searching for anyone trapped under a four-storey building that collapsed at the edge of the City of London.

Firefighters were using specialist sound equipment to search for possible survivors under the rubble in Commercial Road, Aldgate East.

Eleven passers-by, including a young boy, were treated for shock at the scene after the building caved in at about 4.40pm yesterday.

By 10am today no survivors have been found.

Ali Morris, landlady of The Castle pub in Commercial Road, said the building was in ruins. "There's scaffolding come off the front of the building, pushed out by all the debris. It's all leaning on a lamp post."

Ms Morris said she believed the building was being converted into offices. Construction work had been going on for some time.

"There wasn't anybody living there but they don't know whether people were working inside or not," she said.

100-metre cordon

According to the London Fire Brigade, the first and second floors of the four-storey building have fallen down, creating a "substantial amount of debris". Fire crew were looking for ways to stabilise the building.

They have now taken down the unstable scaffolding in front, fire brigade spokesman William Bird said at the scene this morning.

A 100-metre cordon put in place overnight was expected to remain for most of today, the Met police said.

The western end of Commercial Road, between the Aldgate one-way system and Cannon Street Road, has been blocked in both directions.

All traffic, including buses on routes 15 and 155, was being diverted along Whitechapel Road towards Mile End.

Police advised drivers to avoid the area, as long delays formed over the rush-hour.