Balcony collapses at London’s Apollo theatre : rescue underway (VIDEO)

Part of a balcony at the Apollo theatre in London has collapsed reportedly trapping people under it, according to Sky News.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was playing at the Shaftesbury Avenue venue.

The Associated Press reports:

“Police said officers were called at around 2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST) to reports of a ceiling collapse at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue in central London.”
“It said police ‘are aware of a number of casualties’ but had no further details.
“London’s fire department said eight engines are on the scene in the SoHo neighborhood.”

The BBC said the theater was “packed” when the collapse occurred:

“An eyewitness said she heard ‘a crackling’ noise before the collapse at about 20:15 GMT. Another eyewitness said the ‘entire dome roof’ fell on audience members seated in the stalls.”

Reuters reports that theatergoers were injured by falling masonry and says one of its reporters says emergency vehicles have blocked off the street leading to the Apollo.

“I think the front part of the balcony fell down,” Martin Bostock, who was in the audience, told Sky Television. “It was hard to see anything through the dust.”

Canadajournal/Agencies