06 April 2024 , 16:19
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Witnesses said the crane "sliced through" a house, after a lorry carrying the crane toppled over in a residential street in Wigan on Saturday - leading to an operation to remove the huge metal lifter
The residents of a house have been places into emergency accommodation after a massive crane smashed into the front of their property.
The machine was on the back of a lorry that toppled over in a residential street in Wigan on Saturday. Witnesses said the crane "sliced through" the house at about 10:30am. An operation is now ongoing to remove the huge metal lifter which is embedded in the building. Photos from the scene show part of the roof and front wall destroyed by the impact of the huge mechanical arm. It appears to have crashed through at least one upper room in the end-of-terrace home.
The top section of the crane has now been removed from the house @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/kQSXQ81Brw
— Imogen Clyde-Smith (@ImogenC_S) April 6, 2024
Images from the scene also show a lorry that was carrying the crane on its side in the road. A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “At around 10:30am today (Saturday 6th April), firefighters were called to reports of a crane that had fallen through the side of a residential property in Atherton, Wigan
"One fire engine from Atherton fire station quickly arrived at the scene, where a lorry carrying the crane had overturned in the roadway. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) established a cordon on the street, while firefighters worked to isolate the gas and electricity to the property and clear spilled fuel from the roadway.
The scene has now been left with GMP and the crane operating company to arrange recovery of the crane. The occupants are being supported by the local authority to find temporary accommodation." Flapper Fold Lane in Atherton, Wigan, has been closed in both directions while emergency services deal with the incident, reports the MEN.
Recovery teams are now removing the crane from the property. There is no confirmation so far about what caused the incident. Parts of the UK are currently under a weather warning due to high winds from Storm Kathleen.