Part of the roof at the Apollo Theatre in central London collapsed during a packed performance of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, BBC News reported. An eyewitness at the theater said she heard "a crackling" noise before the "roof just crumpled" at about 8:15 p.m. on Thursday evening. Another eyewitness said the "entire dome roof" had fallen on audience members who were seated in the stalls, according to news reports. A rescue unit has been called in by the Metropolitan Police.
"The entire dome roof fell down on the audience just in front of us," Amy Lecoz told BBC News. Lecoz was at the theater with her two teenage children.
"There was panic, there was screaming," added a writer for The Independent.
"Witnesses said they saw people being leaving the building, covered in dust and debris and some were crying," BBC News reported.
"At first I thought it was part of the performance but then it got louder. I turned around and I saw a cloud of dust and rubble coming towards us. There's now lots of people wondering around in a daze covered in dust," eyewitness Rachel Williams told The Guardian.
"London Fire Brigade confirmed that eight fire engines had been sent to the scene," according to news reports.
"Walking wounded were taken from the scene in ambulances as a team of firefighters rushed through the front stage door in Archer Street," The Guardian also reported.
The Apollo Theatre is located in London's West End.
