Residents were forced to flee their homes in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a terrifying roof collapse shook a row of terraced houses in Notting Hill.
Twelve people were evacuated from three homes on McGregor Road shortly after 1am, when the front gable end of a roof dramatically gave way, sending bricks and rubble crashing onto the pavement and front gardens.
Emergency services responded within minutes, with two fire engines and dozens of firefighters rushing to the scene to rescue those trapped and assess the danger to the wider area.
Dramatic drone footage and images from the scene show extensive damage to the buildings, now deemed structurally unsafe by engineers.
“It sounded like a car crash”
Lorna Sweeting, 59, a grandmother-of-six, described the moment she was jolted awake by the collapse.
“I told my husband to wake up and then we heard the most horrendous bang. I thought it was a car crashing into us,” she said.
“We have no idea what caused it. We just wanted to get out but we couldn’t. If we opened the [front] gate, more rubble fell down.”
Mrs. Sweeting was eventually rescued by firefighters and taken to the Kensington Hilton Hotel, where she and other evacuees were given temporary shelter.
“I escaped death by seconds”
Ali Sisse, 20, had just arrived home minutes before the collapse. He said the force of the incident felt like an earthquake.
“Everything was shaking for five seconds. I just grabbed my kitten, Luna – she was terrified,” he said.
“If I had missed my bus, I’d be dead. It’s by God’s grace I’m alive.”
Ali ran door to door trying to alert neighbours, many of whom are elderly and struggled to get out on their own.
One man who had lived in a ground-floor flat for 20 years reportedly slept through the collapse due to the thickness of his double doors. He was later rescued by firefighters and helped out over dust-covered stairs and debris.
Investigation and support underway
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed there were no reported injuries, and temporary accommodation and support are being provided to displaced residents.
“We were alerted to a possible roof collapse in the early hours of Wednesday morning,” a council spokesperson said.
“Thankfully no one was injured and we provided accommodation and refreshments for residents who needed somewhere to stay.”
Structural engineers and building control teams are now assessing the damage, and road closures remain in place around the scene.
Fire Brigade response
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne praised the speed of the emergency response.
“Our fire engines were on scene within three minutes of being notified. Crews quickly set about determining whether anyone was still inside the properties,” he said.
“The majority of residents were safely brought out via staircases, while one person trapped by rubble was rescued using a ladder.”
Investigations into what caused the catastrophic structural failure are ongoing.
Residents have been advised to avoid the area and stay in contact with local authorities for updates.
Stay with us for the latest on this developing story.
