Tower Residents Evacuated Following Wall Crack Development

Approximately 150 individuals have been evacuated from 70 apartments within a high-rise structure in north London, prompted by the appearance of a crack in a ninth-floor wall. A resident of The Combe, situated in Munster Square, Camden, contacted the London Fire Brigade (LFB) on Thursday night after hearing a loud noise inside the building. Camden Council, which is currently assessing the building, reported that the LFB made the decision to evacuate the premises upon discovering a crack in a section of the wall. Fifty residents spent Thursday night at a rest centre in Swiss Cottage, where they received support from the council and the British Red Cross. The council has advised all residents who do not have alternative accommodation to relocate to this rest centre. Volunteer Centre Camden has issued an appeal for assistance to support those staying at the centre. A council spokesperson indicated that the flats were evacuated on Thursday evening because a structural engineer had been called, but more extensive checks could not be performed at that time. Engineers were present at the site on Friday, and the spokesperson added that “their assessments indicate the damage appears to be isolated to the flat where the crack was reported and that it will be possible to start repairs this afternoon.” The spokesperson also confirmed that emergency services had since departed from the location. Sebastian Lis, a 19-year-old student residing on the 12th floor, informed BBC London of his relief at the prospect of returning to his flat by 21:00 GMT on Friday. He stated, “The wall that was damaged was internal. It wasn’t like any steel or brick damage, it was just some plaster in someone’s flat.” The building, which is owned by the council, accommodates a mix of tenants and leaseholders. Richard Olszewski, the leader of Camden Council, was at The Combe on Thursday night. He affirmed, “The safety of our residents always comes first.” Olszewski added, “I appreciate nobody wants to leave their homes in these circumstances and all residents affected will be keen to know when it will be safe to return. We are working as quickly as we can, with our emergency partners and structural engineers, to understand when this might be and to ensure there are alternative arrangements in place for residents in the meantime.” He further stated, “I thank residents for their patience so far and to the emergency services who worked last night to ensure everyone was evacuated safely.” Residents impacted by the incident were instructed to call Camden Council’s hotline at 020 7974 8865. For more from BBC Radio London, tune into Sounds, and connect with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.