Site search continues after Didcot demolition disaster

Aaron Morby 9 years ago
Share

A major search operation is continuing this morning after one demolition worker was killed and three more are missing after the ten-storey boiler house at Didcot Power Station collapsed yesterday.

Scene of the Didcot A collapse where three demolition workers are still missing
Scene of the Didcot A collapse where three demolition workers are still missing

Five other workers are in hospital, two being treated for serious injuries, after the catastrophic partial collapse as the building was being prepared for demolition.

Demolition contractor Coleman and Company was helping investigators as rescue teams with dogs and drones searched the ten metre high pile of debris overnight and this morning.

The 300 metre long building was ten storeys high and was due to be demolished in the next few months.

A spokesman for Coleman said: “We are working with all stakeholders to establish facts.”

Simon Furlong, assistant chef fire officer, said at the scene: “The remainder of the building is very unsafe which is hampering the search. This is a very difficult situation with a very unstable structure.

“The safety of emergency service personnel has to remain our priority, while recognising how hard this must be for families waiting for news of loved ones overnight.

“Our sympathies are with them, and the family of the person who died here yesterday.

“An expert from Cheshire with similar experience is due on site today to advise on the search.

“The police will be taking over control of the site as part of ongoing investigation but we are continuing working with fire services from Bucks, Hants and West Midlands, and this work may continue for several days.”

A GMB union official said: “We understand that workers were preparing two boilers for demolition in the coming weeks. This led to the collapse of a building.”

At first it was believed there had been a massive explosion at the site after eye-witnesses described hearing a loud bang and seeing billowing clouds of smoke.

A council spokeman said: “Dust from the collapse covered a considerable area and we can confirm that there were no hazardous materials within the building; residents are advised to remain inside keeping doors and windows closed.”

More than 47 people were treated at the scene for dust inhalation.

 

 

Latest news

Winners named for £2.6bn NHS SBS Modular 3 framework

Twenty-seven secure spots on health, education and resi framework
2 days ago

Leeds kicks off homes vision for Elland Road regeneration

Council plans to deliver 2,000 homes around United’s revamped stadium
2 days ago

Britcon targets £70m turnover after string of framework wins

Major AMP8 win and regional expansion fuel contractor’s biggest growth push yet
2 days ago

Go-ahead for 37-storey tower at Leeds Merrion Centre

Town Centre Securities to deliver over 1,000 student rooms
2 days ago

Taylor Wimpey fined £800k after apprentice falls down stairwell

Teenage brickie injured after falling with pile of concrete blocks
3 days ago

Green light for life sciences buildings in campus expansion

Construction to start this year on Wellcome Genome Campus in South Cambridgeshire
2 days ago

Morgan Sindall scores £63m twin wins on flagship leisure projects

£36m Southampton and £27m Bishop Auckland jobs get underway
2 days ago

Hill and L&G partner on £450m Coventry city centre revamp

Partners to deliver opening phase of 991-home City Centre South scheme
3 days ago

Graham snaps up sector veteran to lead office fit-outs

Peter Allan most recently held director roles at ISG and Overbury
2 days ago

Construction growth of 0.9% bucks wider shrinking economy

Construction output climbs for third straight month
3 days ago

Crest Nicholson returns to profit

House builder back in the black after huge fire safety provisions last year
3 days ago

JN Bentley profit surges as revenue tops £500m

Surging water work and plant investment underpin £19m profit
3 days ago

Willmott Dixon bags £49m East London business school job

Builder secures second job in a year for Queen Mary University
3 days ago

Another extension for competition probe into house builders

Spotlight will stay on seven housing giants for another few months
4 days ago

Strike ballot for 1,500 Sellafield construction workers

36 contractors working on nuclear clean-up could be hit
3 days ago

WSP to buy Ricardo

Consulting giant to add another 2,700 staff
4 days ago

Infrastructure and major projects boost profits at Vp

Specialist construction, water and transmission sectors are star performers
4 days ago

TClarke jumps to top of M&E firms rankings

Growth in data centres and commercial refits creates optimism for year ahead
4 days ago

JRL plans Sutton 12-storey office to co-living revamp

St Nicholas House to be stripped back and reworked into high-rise homes
4 days ago

Plan to double affordable homes spend at centre of spending review

£39bn will be injected into social housing over 10-years
4 days ago

Lindum lands £44m automation centre contract

Construction to start this summer on Sutton-in-Ashfield site
4 days ago

Esh seals £160m sewer repairs deal with Northumbrian Water

Eight-year deal caps 25-year partnership with Northumbrian
4 days ago

Rolls-Royce wins race to build UK’s first small modular reactor

BAM Nuttall, Laing O’Rourke and Atkins are supporting Rolls-Royce-led consortium
5 days ago

Plans in for £100m Digbeth regeneration scheme

Developer Hartwell plans mixed-use project at former ironworks site
5 days ago

Founder retakes the reins in Reds10 leadership shake-up

Chief exec steps aside as founder returns to steer growth push
5 days ago

Sizewell C powers up as Government commits £14bn funding

Around 70% of contracts for 3,500 British suppliers as construction to gear up
5 days ago

Plans in for 3,000-capacity TraffordCity ice arena

Second ice rink for Trafford as Peel pushes leisure-led regeneration
5 days ago

Walker Modular wins pods deal at £90m Greystar site

Latest package win with McAleer & Rushe on Birmingham student tower
5 days ago

Pre-pack deal rescues online building materials firm

Lords acquires £71m-turnover CMO from administrators for £1.8m
6 days ago

Russell WBHO lands £25m Oldham industrial deal

Next phase of scheme will deliver 13 distribution and manufacturing units
5 days ago

Contractor services