A section of the ceiling collapsed during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time at the Apollo Theatre tonight (19th Dec). Emergency services were called after a section of the ceiling collapsed and fell onto theatregoers. It is believed part of the roof came down forty minutes into the performance.
"People were looking up in a bewildered way when the roof came down, wondering if it was part of the show," an eyewitness told BBC News. "Those close to the emergency exit managed to get out, though others were trapped."
The ambulance services reported at 9.30pm there were 65 casualties, including walking wounded. It has been reported that nearby theatre are being used to treat those with smaller injuries.
"I was hit on the head by a piece of masonry," an audience member told the BBC. "We thought it was part of the show at first, then we saw all the actors looking up and pointing, looking horrified." Speaking to Sky News, a theatregoer who was sitting in the second row of the stalls described the roof as "landing on people. There was a lady who was in a lot of shock and had a lot of debris over her and a cut head."
The section of plaster roof that came down was said to be three to five metres in circumference. One theatregoer reported seeing sparks from the ceiling. A group of audience members reportedly went back inside the venue to help following the evacuation. Emergency services were on the scene within minutes and Shaftesbury Avenue was cordoned off.
Nick Harding of the London Fire Brigade said: "We believe around 720 people were in the theatre at the time. A section of the theatre's ceiling collapsed onto the audience who were watching the show. The ceiling took parts of the balconies down with it. In my time as a fire officer I've never seen an incident like this. I imagine lots of people were out enjoying the show in the run-up to Christmas. My thoughts go out to all those affected."
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