Hundreds of people were evacuated in Manchester on Friday after part of Alberton House, a building marked for demolition, collapsed near Bridge Street. Debris and scaffolding fell into the River Irwell, triggering panic among residents and workers in nearby offices.
Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, closing off surrounding streets to ensure public safety.
🚨 Breaking: Part of a building in #Manchester collapses near Bridge Street. Locals felt an “earthquake-like” tremor as debris fell into the River Irwell. No injuries reported.#ManchesterNews #BreakingNews #UK #NewsUpdate pic.twitter.com/5f6zt553SV
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) October 24, 2025
Locals Describe “Earthquake-Like” Tremor
Witnesses described the moment the collapse occurred, saying the ground shook violently. “It felt like a huge earthquake,” said Tayy Ara, who works at Cardinal House across the street.
Another witness, Chloe Gallagher, recalled hearing “an almighty crash” before seeing part of the building crumble. “The dust clouds looked like they were coming across, so I grabbed my colleague and moved out of the way,” she said. “The ground shook, and we could see half the building collapsing.”
Company Confirms Safety Protocols Were Followed
Bruntwood SciTech, the company that owns the site, said that all safety procedures were in place and that there was no risk to the public or nearby buildings.
“On a site of this complexity, all eventualities are planned for,” a spokesperson said. “We were able to follow agreed safety protocols. There was no risk to the on-site team, neighbouring buildings, or the general public.”
The company acknowledged that the loud noise and dust may have caused concern but confirmed that demolition work will continue as planned. Contractors PP O’Connor remain at the site.
Residents Reported Earlier Tremors
Locals said they had felt minor tremors in recent weeks due to ongoing demolition work, but Friday’s collapse was significantly stronger. Despite the intense shaking, no injuries were reported, and emergency services confirmed that evacuations were precautionary.
