Vic: Second building to be evacuated

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2007
Vic: Second building to be evacuated

Eds: clarifies 570 Bourke Street is 31 storeys high

MELBOURNE, Dec 6 AAP - Up to 4,000 office workers are to be evacuated from a second
Melbourne building after an explosion caused a fire at a neighbouring office tower.

The explosion occurred in an electrical substation in a car park at the rear of the
building at 570 Bourke Street in central Melbourne.

All 3,000 occupants of the 31-storey office tower have now been safely accounted for
and evacuated, including several who were trapped in lifts, Metropolitan Fire Brigade
spokesman David Mann said.

Mr Mann said 600 Bourke Street was to be evacuated from 2.30pm (AEDT), because its
power supply was dwindling.

"We'd rather get them out before the power goes out in the building," he said.

Circuit breakers and a large amount of wiring was destroyed in the substation blaze,
which was brought under control about 2pm, he said.

Mr Mann told ABC radio some disabled workers had to be helped down the stairs.

He said ambulance crews had treated workers for smoke inhalation and shock.

A Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) spokesman said 15 people had been treated by
ambulance crews for respiratory complaints and four were being taken to hospital.

Reports said black smoke was billowing out of the office building, Marland House, through a vent.

AAP md/pmu/lh/bwl

KEYWORD: BUILDING LEAD

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