Skip to main content
Open this photo in gallery:

Emergency crews are at the scene after a 20-metre crane collapsed in east London, on July 8, 2020.Victoria Jones/The Associated Press

A 20-metre crane collapsed onto a block of apartments under development and two houses in east London, killing one person and injuring four others, authorities said Wednesday.

“Sadly, despite the efforts of emergency services, a fifth person has been found and died at the scene,” the London Ambulance Service said.

Four people were treated, including two people taken to the hospital with head injuries. Crews and a team of specialist paramedics who work in hazardous environments were at the scene in the Bow neighbourhood.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis said search-and-rescue crews were using specialized equipment to search the properties as part of “a complex rescue operation” on Wednesday afternoon.

“This is a multi-agency response and is likely to be a protracted incident,” Ellis said.

Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe