West End Theatre Ceiling Collapses on Audience.
A section of the ceiling and roof of the Apollo Theatre in London’s West collapsed on the audience mid way through the first half of a performance of the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time on Thursday night, injuring at least 88 people including children.
The 775 seat, 112-year old Grade II listed theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, named for the Greek and Roman god Apollo, god of music and the arts,was had a near capacity audience
Witnesses heard creaking noises before a section of the ceiling collapsed and brought down parts of the balconies.
Eight fire engines and dozens of ambulences attended the scene.
Rescuers commandeered a red London double decker bus to transport some of the injured to hospital.
Several people were stretchered away from the scene, while others were treated in the lobby of the nearby Queen's Theatre, where the musical Les Miserables was being performed, which had been turned into a triage centre.
Emergency services said they did not believe there were any fatalities and that all those trapped had now been freed.
"We have treated 81 walking wounded and seven more seriously injured patients at the Apollo Theatre incident," the London Ambulance Service said in a statement.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that all those who were trapped have been freed.
December 20, 2013
Sources