An abandoned building in Bradford has dramatically collapsed, sending a huge cloud of dust and piles of rubble across a busy carriageway.
Eyewitness captures dramatic collapse
The derelict structure on Dale Street in Bradford, West Yorkshire, gave way at approximately 7.30am on Monday, December 15. Startling mobile phone footage captured by a bystander shows the moment the building crumbled, scattering debris onto the tarmac.
The individual who filmed the incident, who wished to remain anonymous, described hearing ominous sounds just before the collapse. "You could hear the bricks cracking, the pipes falling and then the building came down in an almighty dust cloud," he said. "There was a massive pile of rubble afterwards."
Emergency response and road closure
Police, fire crews, and council officers were quickly on the scene following the collapse. The local Highways department arrived to block off the affected road for public safety.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called at 6.50am to reports of an unsafe structure. "We've got two crews at the scene who are assisting stakeholders including a structural engineer," the spokesperson stated.
Council acts to secure the site
Council officers exercised their duty of care to make the area safe for the public. Structural engineers were required to assess the remains of the building and the surrounding area.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The eyewitness confirmed, "No one was anywhere near it when it came down." The building, which was situated next to a block of flats, had already been partially collapsed before the main structure failed completely.
