Two dead, four others injured after London, Ont., building collapse

Two people are dead after a four-storey wall collapsed at a construction site in London, Ont.

At least five others were injured in the incident at a partially constructed apartment building in the city’s west end, local authorities said. Two were said to be in fair condition, one in serious and another in critical condition. The city said another person had a minor injury but wasn’t taken to hospital.

Late Friday, a statement from the city confirmed that the rescue operation at the collapse had turned into a recovery after it was confirmed that the person trapped had been pronounced dead.

“Today is a difficult day for Londoners,” said Mayor Ed Holder. “I know the community joins me in expressing our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who lost their lives today, and in expressing our care and concern for those who were injured and remain in hospital.”

All the people involved had been working at the site at the time, the city said.

The incident took place just before noon, authorities said.

There was no immediate word on what may have caused the collapse.

As of mid-afternoon, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency responders surrounded the dark pink building, which is slated to become apartments.

The structure is still covered in scaffolding.

The Office of the Fire Marshal said it was sending the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit and the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team to the scene to help local firefighters dig through the rubble.

“There’s a considerable amount of debris,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matt Hepditch.

The London Health Sciences Centre, which initially declared a “Code Orange” in response to the collapse, said it also sent doctors to the scene to help with the “extrication.”

A Code Orange is declared when numerous people are injured in a disaster and it’s expected to affect hospital operations. The LHSC later lifted the code, saying it was able to handle the small influx of patients.

The Ministry of Labour had two investigators and an engineer at the site, which it said was managed by Brock Developments.

The address is listed as the site of “Nest on Wonderland,” a forthcoming low-rise “premium” apartment building, scheduled to be finished by spring/summer 2021.

Brock Developments did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

@ONFireMarshal @jonpeggOFMEM have authorized the deployment of the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) team to London, Ont for a structural collapse. The team is preparing and deploying. @Toronto_Fire @TorontoMedics @TorontoPolice

— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) December 11, 2020

Emergency crews on scene of partial building collapse at the corner of Teeple Terrace and Wonderland Road North. Media staging area is currently set up at Old Wonderland Road and Teeple Terrace. @SandashaLPS on scene. #ldnont @LdnOntFire @MLPS911 https://t.co/vv8EyCbsU1

— London Police Service ON (@lpsmediaoffice) December 11, 2020