Bow crane collapse: Four believed injured as firefighters carry out ‘complex rescue operation’

Four people are believed to be injured after a crane collapsed on houses in east London, with firefighters involved in a “complex rescue operation”.

London Fire Brigade tweeted that it was “working to free people trapped inside”.

“A 20-metre crane has collapsed on to a block of flats under development and into two terraced houses on Compton Close,” said assistant commissioner Graham Ellis.

“Our urban search and rescue crews are undertaking a complex rescue operation and using specialist equipment to search the properties.

“This is a multi-agency response and is likely to be a protracted incident…”

It is not clear yet whether the trapped people have been rescued.

Pictures show firefighters with ladders propped up against a house with its roof caved in, while aerial images show the twisted crane embedded in the building.

Police said they had received reports that four people were injured after they were called to the scene at around 2.39pm.

London Ambulance Service tweeted that “specialist resources” were at the scene.

A man working on a nearby construction site told PA Media that he had seen the crane being erected yesterday.

(c) Sky News 2020: Bow crane collapse: Four believed injured as firefighters carry out ‘complex rescue operation’