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Building collapse in Ramsgate closes Plains of Waterloo

Two people were injured after a building partially collapsed.

Emergency services are at the scene of the incident in Plains of Waterloo in Ramsgate's town centre.

Building collapses in Ramsgate. Picture: David Gravener
Building collapses in Ramsgate. Picture: David Gravener

Crews were called at around 10.15pm last night.

Two people suffered minor injuries with one taken to QEQM hospital for a check up.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Neighbours say a couple and young child live at the property.

Melanie Slyfield says she was in her house in Bellevue Road when she heard a massive bang at around 10pm and the floor started shaking.

Melanie Slyfield says she heard a huge bang and felt the floor shaking. (16955075)
Melanie Slyfield says she heard a huge bang and felt the floor shaking. (16955075)

"It sounded like a big firework going off and when we went outside we saw the building had come down," she said.

"Everyone was out in the street on their phones trying to find out what was going on.

"I know there's a little girl living there who's about one and a half and, being a mum myself, I was worried about her so I went round and found the mother outside holding her. She was really shaking.

"Her partner kept going back in and out of the house and in the end we had to tell him to stop because it was so dangerous.

"We were worried people might have still been in there but they all got out.

Neighbours reported hearing a huge bang and went outside to find a bulding partially collapsed and on fire in Plains of Waterloo in Ramsgate. (16955055)
Neighbours reported hearing a huge bang and went outside to find a bulding partially collapsed and on fire in Plains of Waterloo in Ramsgate. (16955055)

"There's a massive crack down the back of the property, too. It's extremely dangerous there."

Pete Payne, who runs a hairdressers on the corner of Plains of Waterloo, says people are speculating that it might have been a gas explosion.

"At the moment it's too dangerous to go in there to find out," he said.

The barber says the bang sounded like an explosion.

"The first thing was just making sure everyone was out and moved away from the building," he said.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and fire. (16955061)
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and fire. (16955061)

An investigation is now under way to establish the cause of the fire.

While at the scene, officers also found a cannabis cultivation in a nearby building.

A full road closure is currently in place for safety reasons.

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