Sydney tower block evacuated as residents hear 36-storey building 'crack'
Thousands of residents have been moved out on Christmas Eve after fears were raised that the building could collapse.
Monday 24 December 2018 23:20, UK
A 36-storey building in Sydney with more than 3,000 people has been evacuated after reports of cracking noises coming from the high-rise.
The residents living in or near the Opal Tower complex in the city's Olympic Park were moved out on Christmas Eve.
Firefighters and engineers entered the complex on Monday to investigate the reported cracks on the 10th floor and their cause - including whether the building is in danger of collapse.
Meriton, the operator of the neighbouring building, said in an email sent out to residents that there was "potential for the tower to collapse".
New South Wales police said in a statement that the alarm was raised by residents who reported hearing "cracking noises" throughout the morning.
Police say experts have found the $165m (£92m) building, which was completed in August, has moved between one and two millimeters.
Residents of 51 apartments, which have been deemed structurally unsafe, have been escorted back into the building to collect belongings. An emergency shelter has been set up for those unable to sort out alternative accommodation.
A half-mile exclusion zone has been established around the building while water and gas services have been shut off.
The tower has been isolated from the power grid.
A resident of the Opal Tower told the Nine News network he heard a loud bang as if something in the building had "snapped".
Another resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation there were cracks on the building's 12th and 13th floors.
"I'm concerned, of course," he said.
"A few days ago the doors looked different, like they couldn't close properly. And you do feel (movement) sometimes when there's strong wind."
The triangular-shaped tower has 392 apartments, a shopping area and a childcare centre.