50 metre wall collapses on Daltons Demolition site in Leith.
A supermarket chain has launched an investigation after a wall collapsed during work on a new branch – sparking a major gas scare.
Dozens of residents had to be evacuated after nearly 30 tonnes of rubble came crashing down towards flats on St Clair Place, rupturing a pipe.
Fire crews from McDonald Road and Marionville Road arrived on the scene at approximately 2pm on Saturday and evacuated the 16 flats amid fears of a major gas leak.
A new Lidl is being built off Easter Road backing on to Easter Cemetery, replacing the old B&Q.
The 50m wall collapsed towards the flats, destroying the garden. It also ripped out the window of a ground-floor flat.
Ken Carlyle, a project manager and owner of one of the flats, said it was fortunate no-one was killed. “The garden is regularly used and is a drying green,” he says. “It is pure luck that nobody was injured or killed.”
A Lidl spokesperson confirmed a probe was under way, adding “we are investigating into this matter and how this could have happened.
“We have been working with Daltons Demolition to ascertain the cause of this incident and will let you know once this investigation has been completed. We are happy to report that nobody was injured in this incident.”
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