Several buildings in a major city center were evacuated this afternoon following reports of a partial collapse resembling an earthquake in Manchester. The incident occurred near Bridge Street, where a tower block, slated for demolition, experienced a dramatic structural failure.
A Manchester resident working nearby described feeling a strong earthquake-like sensation before emergency services arrived to evacuate surrounding buildings. Bruntwood SciTech, the developers overseeing the site, confirmed the partial collapse at Alberton House, which was undergoing demolition. They reassured that safety protocols were followed, and there was no risk to workers, nearby structures, or the public.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation issued a statement emphasizing no injuries were reported and cautioning against premature conclusions about the cause of the incident. The Health and Safety Executive mentioned they are monitoring the situation in Manchester and maintaining communication with emergency services.
Footage online depicted ongoing demolition activities at the site of the collapsed building. The cause of the incident remains unknown, with investigations ongoing to determine if scaffolding failure played a role. The development site where the collapse occurred is designated for the construction of “The Alberton,” a new 18-storey office building with a rooftop pool by UK property giant Bruntwood.
Reports indicated that Alberton House, situated near St Mary’s Parsonage in the city center, suffered a partial collapse, leading to scaffolding falling into the neighboring River Irwell. George Jones, the owner of Cardinal House nearby, had to evacuate around 500 individuals due to safety concerns arising from the incident.
New images from the scene captured the aftermath of the building collapse, showing the structure nearly folded over with scaffolding descending towards street level. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, dispatching a fire engine to St Mary’s Parsonage to address the partially collapsed building under demolition. Firefighters confirmed no injuries and left the scene in the hands of building control authorities.
