1.
AIR VIEW FLATS
0.05

2.
TOP VIEW PAN. DITTO
0.14

3.
SV MATERIAL FALLING FROM BLOCK
0.22

4.
LV DEBRIS
0.25

5.
GV PAN. CROWD
0.30

6.
SV POLICE LOOK THROUGH TELESCOPE
0.36

7.
SV MORE DEBRIS FALLS (2 SHOTS)
0.45

8.
GV PAN. DOWN DAMAGED BLOCK
0.57

9.
SV RESCUE WORKERS SORTING RUBBLE (2 SHOTS)
1.05

10.
SV PAN. PEOPLE CARRYING POSSESSIONS (2 SHOTS)
1.15

11.
SV HOME SECRETARY WITH HOUSING MINISTER
1.18

12.
CU HOME SECRETARY
1.23

13.
SV SALVATION ARMY TEA CANTEEN
1.29

14.
SV ATTORNEY GENERAL (RIGHT) ZOOM TO HOUSING MINISTER
1.39

15.
SV ARCHITECT SMOKING CIGARETTE
1.45

16.
SV BODY INTO AMBULANCE
1.55

17.
LV ZOOM IN DAMAGED BLOCK
2.03



Initials GHB/V AND B/RM/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN EXPLOSION EARLY TODAY (THURSDAY) SLICED THROUGH A BLOCK OF EAST LONDON FLATS KILLING AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE AND LEAVING MANY HOMELESS. POLICE, FIREMEN, AND RESCUE WORKERS WERE ON THE SCENE WITHIN MINUTES, AND RESIDENTS OF THE FLATS FLED FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE IN THEIR NIGHTCLOTHES.

THE EXPLOSION WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE OCCURRED ON THE 18TH FLOOR OF THE BRAND NEW 22-STOREY BUILDING. IT SHEARED OFF THE SITTING POORS OF 22 FLATS. EYEWITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SAW A SECTION OF THE HUGE BLOCK COLLAPSE LIKE A DECK OF CARDS INTO A CLOUD OF DUST AND RUBBLE.

FIREMEN AND POLICE PICKED THROUGH THE RUBBLE TO RETRIEVE THE BODIES OF TWO MEN AND A WOMAN WHILE OVERHEAD TONS OF CONCRETE TREMBLED PRECARIOUSLY. THIS WAS LATER DISLODGED BY FIREMEN.

THE HOME SECRETARY, MR. JAMES CALLAGHAN, VISITED THE SITE OF THE DISASTER IN CANNING TOWN, EAST LONDON, AND PROMISED A FULL INQUIRY. THE ARCHITECT, MR. THOMAS NORTH, SAID HE THOUGHT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS GREAT IN A CONVENTIONAL BLOCK OF FLATS WITH A FRAME OF STEEL GIRDERS. THE AFFECTED BLOCK WAS COMPLETED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND IS BUILT OF PREFABRICATED CONCRETE SLABS.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND THE HOUSING MINISTER ALSO VISITED THE SITE. EXPERTS WERE PREPARING REPORTS ON THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.

THE DEATH TOLL MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY HIGHER IF THE EXPLOSION HAD OCCURRED LATER IN THE DAY. MOST FAMILIES WERE EITHER STILL ASLEEP OR JUST RISING, BUT FEW WERE IN THE LIVING ROOMS OF THEIR FLATS - THE ROOMS WHICH COLLAPSED.