A medical centre on busy Sydney Road in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick collapsed after construction work on the adjacent block went awry. According to ABC News, a building was being demolished in nearby Albion Road.
Reception staff at the medical centre noticed cracks appearing in the walls and floor of the building at lunch time, and informed the construction workers next door. The construction workers ordered everyone to evacuate the building before it collapsed 30 minutes later.
The impact of the collapse was dramatic. Bricks and debris were sent flying across Sydney Road, and a tram stop was completely buried in rubble. Power lines and a tram cable were taken down, but fortunately there are no direct reports of injuries. However, an 83-year-old man was struck by a slow-moving tram in the ensuing chaos and has minor injuries.
Peak hour traffic in Melbourne was severely interrupted this afternoon, and the No. 19 tram cancelled. Police had cordoned-off the scene and the various media as well as Victorian Workcover Authority inspectors were in attendance, to survey the damage.
Here are some photos which I was able to take this afternoon, showing the extent of damage:
Gee that looks awful. Thank God the medical reception staff noticed the cracks before it collapsed!
Very up to the minute blog on what could have been much worse if the people had not had sufficient warning. You have provided a great set of photo’s. Thanks
Great pics.
Channel 7 got hold of someone’s camcorder footage of the building actually collapsing. http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/vic/
I wonder if I was the last visitor there. I bet I was the last medical rep. I left a bag of samples etc around midday and there was my car ,parked outside with a bumper sticker saying “sept 11 was an inside job” I am such an activist in the area. To think it could have collapsed while I in there at such a rate looking at the video. I remember the receptionist was having trouble with her phone disconnecting
The yahoo link above is out of date. You can view the video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgoGfBghShA.