Hundreds of people have been evacuated from two east London tower blocks after the buildings were declared unsafe when a potentially ‘disastrous’ crack was identified in the structure.

Firefighters were scrambled to Hoy Street in Canning Town where the Sovereign and Centurion towers were considered at risk of due to problems with a concrete slab supporting the buildings.

Some people living in the block were sent an email about the faulty structure on Thursday afternoon but a full evacuation was not complete until 3am on Friday.

Evacuees were offered beds in a nearby council building but many, still in dressing gowns and bed clothes after the emergency evacuation do not know when they can return.

A ‘crisis meeting’ was being held between Newham Council and the property management company Prime, at the site on Friday. 

One person who lives there told : ‘This is a nightmare.

‘We were evacuated late last night, I had to go and stay with a friend but I was one of the lucky ones.

‘I grabbed a bag and left, I don’t have kids but there were whole families standing on the street freezing and confused. We have been told the building is not safe but have been offered nothing in the way of support yet. There are loads of questions we have including how long has this potentially disastrous crack has been there.’

Another said: ‘We are gutted to have been kicked out of our flat. But the big question is how long has this problem been there and was it built to code.

‘To be evacuated so suddenly suggests the situation was very serious and potentially life threatening.’

A London fire brigade statement said: ‘Firefighters were called to reports of a dangerous structure at a residential building on Hoy Street in Canning Town.

‘Crews assisted with the evacuation of residents to a rest centre. The scene was left with the management of the building.’

The Brigade was called at 10.42pm. One fire engine from Poplar Fire Station attended the scene.

Property managers Prime have been contacted for comment.

However senior managers and engineers are on site as an investigation is launched into the problems that triggered the emergency evacuation.

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