Serious Injuries As Ceiling Collapses At Famous London Theatre

Up to 88 people are believed to be injured, a number of them seriously, after the roof collapsed in London's Apollo Theatre during a performance.

One of the West End's most renowned theatres, the BBC reports that theatre-goers heard a “crackling” noise during the performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. The theatre was believed to be near capacity, with as many as 720 people in attendance, many of whom emerged from the theatre covered in debris.

Multiple UK sources are reporting that seven people are seriously injured.

The Guardian quotes the London Fire Brigade Nick Harding, who is at the scene, saying, “We believe around 720 people were in the theatre at the time. A section of the theatre's ceiling collapsed onto the audience who were watching the show. The ceiling took parts of the balconies down with it.”

He added, “Specialist urban search and rescue crews were also called to the scene to make sure no one was trapped. Fortunately all those who were trapped have been rescued and treated for injuries or taken to hospital.

“A number of people were injured and ambulance crews are working hard to look after them. The latest information is that there were around 80 walking wounded, many of whom had head injuries. Around five have been taken to hospital with more serious injuries.”

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, which is based on Mark Haddon's novel of the same name, is enjoying a successful run at the theatre, received seven Olivier Awards earlier this year – a record for the theatre awards.