Kaz
State of Origin Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
- 10,076
- 3,847
Emergency services are rushing to WIN Stadium’s western grandstand, which has buckled under gale-force winds.
Both ends of the newly completed roof have buckled after strong winds buffeted Wollongong this afternoon.
Engineers on site have deemed the situation a critical incident.
Witnesses say a large structural beam appears to have snapped.
The Steelers Club has been evacuated as a precaution and parts of Harbour and Burelli streets have been closed due to the dangerous conditions.
Police have extended the exclusion zone as the risk of collapse grows.
Employee Megan Jarrett was one of a number of staff members and around 20 patrons evacuated half an hour ago.
‘‘All we know is that we were told it might blow over,’’ she said.
Illawarra Mercury journalist Mario Christodoulou reported the grandstand roof was in a precarious state.
‘‘Every time the wind picks up it seems to be teetering back and forwards,’’ he said.
‘‘It is moving more and more with each gust of wind.’’
Construction on the $29 million grandstand had been nearing its final stages.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...adium-roof-buckles-in-high-winds/2298049.aspx
Both ends of the newly completed roof have buckled after strong winds buffeted Wollongong this afternoon.
Engineers on site have deemed the situation a critical incident.
Witnesses say a large structural beam appears to have snapped.
The Steelers Club has been evacuated as a precaution and parts of Harbour and Burelli streets have been closed due to the dangerous conditions.
Police have extended the exclusion zone as the risk of collapse grows.
Employee Megan Jarrett was one of a number of staff members and around 20 patrons evacuated half an hour ago.
‘‘All we know is that we were told it might blow over,’’ she said.
Illawarra Mercury journalist Mario Christodoulou reported the grandstand roof was in a precarious state.
‘‘Every time the wind picks up it seems to be teetering back and forwards,’’ he said.
‘‘It is moving more and more with each gust of wind.’’
Construction on the $29 million grandstand had been nearing its final stages.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...adium-roof-buckles-in-high-winds/2298049.aspx
