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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Neil Shaw

Lucky escape after house collapses into street

Residents had a “miracle” escape after a house partially collapsed in the busy student area.

Firefighters dashed to the mid-terraced property in Heeley Road, Selly Oak, at 1.30pm after receiving reports of a roof falling in.

Rubble and bricks were strewn across the road while scaffolding, which was erected outside the three-storey house, was also crushed.

Eight people were evacuated from the house and the road closed but despite the damage, no one was injured.

Writing on Twitter, West Midlands Fire Service said: "Firefighters from Bournbrook fire station have responded to Heeley Road, Selly Oak where a mid-terraced house has partially collapsed along with some scaffolding.

"Around eight people have been evacuated from neighbouring properties as a precaution. The road is currently closed."

A Fire Service spokesperson added: "Our firefighters have removed some of the rubble created as a result of this incident, including some from a roof.

“A structural engineer has advised on remedial work that needs to be done by contractors.

“We'll revisit the scene to check progress later this afternoon."

Pictures show a red car crushed by the falling scaffolding, while the wooden beams of the roof can be seen exposed following the collapse.

One resident said: “It’s amazing no one was hurt. A miracle really because the road is usually busy with students and there were bricks and scaffolding all over the place.

“It’s a right mess. Almost all the houses are rented to students. It looks like it was a loft extension which collapsed.”

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