Burwood: Parts of unoccupied building collapse on Railway Pde

Hundreds of workers and residents have been evacuated in Sydney’s inner west after parts of a multistorey building slated for demolition collapsed.

Hundreds of residents and workers in a busy inner west street have been evacuated after parts of a building slated for demolition collapsed.

NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) were called to the Burwood site after the partial collapse of the building, which is about 12 storeys, on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood an excavator operator is working to stabilise the structure and prevent further collapse but the scaffolding surrounding the building is also unstable and at risk of buckling.

Part of the building that collapsed at Railway Pde Burwood.

The building is scheduled for demolition.

FRNSW Acting Superintendent Mat Sigmund said some scaffolding had dislodged and made the building unstable.

Safe Work NSW and a structural engineer are at the site along with FRNSW rescue and aerial crews.

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Mat Sigmund at Railway Pde Burwood after parts of a building under demolition collapsed.

Patrons at Burwood Library were evacuated shortly after 4.30pm after staff said there was an incident on the street.

Residents of a dual-building apartment block on Railway Pde must wait to get back into their homes after evacuating about 3.30pm.

Concerned resident Mariana Leung rushed home from work after her mother told her about the evacuation.

“They all said everybody’s evacuated. My mum’s not great with English so she wasn’t aware if there was a fatal incident,” she said.

“It’s risky isn’t it? There are days that are very windy and our balconies and curtains are covered with dust.

“There are days I simply cannot open the balcony door.’’

Part of the building has collapsed.

Railway Pde is blocked off to pedestrians and drivers.

Mariana Leung has been evacuated.

Jareer Shikrani at Burwood where he and hundreds of other residents have been evacuated after parts of the building collapsed across the road at Railway Pde.

Jareer Shikrani, 27, moved into one of the units on Tuesday, and was waiting across the road after discovering his home was insecure.

The Burwood Council carpark next door to the construction site will also close.