Demolition for collapse building

A floor gave way as concrete was being poured onto the top of an office block under construction in Victoria Street on Monday.

They said some workers fell about 30ft and had to be pulled free from falling steel girders, scaffolding and rubble.

The NI Health and Safety Executive said it was being investigated.

"We are looking at stabilising the structures around the perimeter of the site and ensuring no further injuries can occur from that," spokesman Ken Logan said.

Five of the workers are in serious but stable conditions.

The sixth is understood to have less serious injuries.

The company in charge of the project, Turkington Construction, has said it will be working closely with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate how the accident happened.

It is believed that up to 60 people were working on the site at the time of the accident.

The fire service used specialist dogs to search the rubble, but no-one else was found.

Only one lane of Victoria Street is open and it will stay like this throughout Tuesday morning to allow health and safety officers to carry out their investigation.

"It looks like the supports underneath the building gave way, which caused machinery to fall on top of the workers"
Brendan Collins

The accident happened close to the back of the Royal Courts of Justice in the centre of Belfast where new offices are being built for the Northern Ireland Law Society.

Nine fire engines and a specialist fire crew, as well as ambulances crews and police officers attended the scene.

Brendan Collins, 23, was beside the building when the scaffolding crashed to the ground. "It looks like the supports underneath the building gave way, which caused machinery to fall on top of the workers.

"I helped to rescue them. I ran in with four or five other fellas and lifted the machinery off one of them. He was covered in blood and completely crushed."

A workman said: "I was in the cellar at the time. It was like a bomb going off. We all ran. It was all rubble. We helped the men that were trapped. It was all we could do. I'm in a state of shock myself."

About 60 people were working on the site

Kris Mills, who works nearby, told BBC News that he was outside at the time and heard a loud crash.

"I saw them pulling two people out who just looked in shock, but as soon as emergency services arrived we were moved back from the scene," he said.

In a statement, Turkington Construction which was working on the site, said it "deeply regrets the incident which took place today at Law Society house.

"We are now working closely with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the causes of the incident and to ensure the site is secured to the public and our workforce."