In Manchester’s city center, a tower block experienced a partial collapse, leading to evacuations due to what witnesses described as an “earthquake-like feeling.” The incident occurred near Bridge Street, with residents reporting a rumble as part of the building fell away unexpectedly. Emergency services quickly responded, evacuating nearby buildings to ensure safety.

Developers Bruntwood SciTech confirmed the partial collapse at Alberton House, slated for demolition. They reassured that all safety protocols were followed, and there was no risk to the on-site team, neighboring buildings, or the public. The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation stated that the incident involved a building under demolition with scaffolding, emphasizing the need for caution until investigations are complete.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is actively monitoring the situation in Manchester, maintaining communication with emergency services. Demolition work continued at the site despite the collapse. The cause of the incident remains unclear, with ongoing investigations to determine if scaffolding failure played a role.

The building site, set for development into “The Alberton,” will feature a new landmark office building managed by property giant Bruntwood. The collapsed structure, Alberton House, located near St Mary’s Parsonage, suffered damage, causing scaffolding to fall into the River Irwell. Businesses in the area were evacuated as a precaution, with reports of the building site resembling a scene from an earthquake.

Recent images from the scene capture the aftermath of the collapse, showing the building nearly folded over with scaffolding cascading towards the street. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue responded promptly to the incident, deploying a fire engine to St Mary’s Parsonage. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the situation was handed over to building control for further assessment.