In pictures: Apollo Theatre ceiling collapse
- Published
Some 76 people were injured - seven of them seriously - when 10 sq m of the ceiling at London's Apollo Theatre collapsed on Thursday evening.
The London fire service said the theatre had been almost full, with about 700 people watching the performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time.
Eyewitnesses described "chaos and panic" as a theatre "began to crumble down" around them.
Chris Edwards was in the theatre with his family and said the scene was "horrific". He took this picture of the debris from the ceiling strewn across the seats.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 20:15 GMT and cordoned off the area around the theatre - which is situated in the heart of London's busy West End.
London Ambulance Service said 25 ambulance crews, 12 officers, members of its hazardous area response team and an air ambulance had been sent to the incident.
Three London buses were commandeered to ferry some of the injured and shocked to hospital.
London Fire Brigade sent eight fire engines and more than 50 firefighters. The theatre's roof was inspected using an aerial ladder platform.
Prime Minister David Cameron praised the "fast work of the emergency services in helping the injured". London Mayor Boris Johnson said his thoughts and prayers were with those involved.
The Society of London Theatre said all the major theatre owners had confirmed their safety inspections and certificates were up to date.
Westminster City Council was expected to report on Friday on a structural assessment of the venue