Investigators on site after section of ceiling came down, injuring 76
A probe has begun into what caused large sections of the ceiling of the Apollo theatre in London to collapse last night, injuring 76 people, seven seriously.
The incident occurred during the performance of A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time at the Shaftesbury Avenue theatre, with London buses commandeered to take walking wounded to local hospitals.
The deputy assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade Graham Ellis told the BBC the plasterwork had fallen on to the upper circle, the dress circle and the stalls.
He said the fire brigade was working with surveyors at Westminster Council to ascertain the reason for the collapse.
Press reports have included speculation that sudden heavy rain last night may have contributed to damaging the plaster work, with theatre goers describing how water fell from the ceiling prior to the collapse of the plaster.
None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
A spokesman for Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo, said an investigation was under way and “thoughts are with the audience and staff”.
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