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Topics: UK News
Claire Reid
Thirteen people have been injured after the floor collapsed in a London bar.
Emergency services attended the Two More Years bar in Hackney Wick shortly before 7pm last night (12 February) after a mezzanine floor collapsed, leaving seven people trapped and in need of rescuing by firefighters.
Three people were seriously hurt and 10 others had minor injuries - four of the 13 people hurt were taken to hospital and major trauma centres, the BBC reports.
A man who was caught up in the incident told the BBC he had been standing on the floor when it collapsed, but was fortunate enough to only sustain a few scratches.
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He said: "It wasn’t what we saw, but what we heard - suddenly there’s this earthquake, like, rumble. And before we know it - suddenly - the floor gave way and we all started to sink, quite fast.
“And then obviously everyone began to scream and then you try to process it because you are never ever prepared for anything like this.
“Thankfully, the ambulances arrived within ten minutes or so.”
Station Commander Sacha Clement, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters carried out a systematic search of the building and rescued seven people from inside.
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“They were trapped on the remaining part of the mezzanine floor and crews used a ladder to bridge between the floor and the internal staircase to get them safely out of the building.
“We worked with our emergency services partners and a number of people were treated at the scene and taken to hospital.”
In an Instagram post, the bar has stated it will remain closed ‘for now’ but said it would provide an update when the time comes.
“At around 5pm today, the mezzanine in our venue collapsed. Thankfully no one has sustained any critical injuries.
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“This does mean the venue will remain closed for now and all dinner reservations and party bookings are cancelled. Our thoughts are with everyone that has been affected. We will provide more information as we have it."
In a tweet, London Mayor Sadiq Khan thanked the emergency services involved and sent his well wishes to those involved.
He wrote: “My thoughts are with those affected by the incident in Hackney Wick this evening. I want to thank @LDN_Ambulance @LondonFire @MetPoliceUK for their swift action.
“A number of people have been treated at the scene & taken to hospital. I wish all those injured a speedy recovery.”