Urban Search & Rescue team based at Aylesbury fire station continue to work at Didcot A power station

The Urban Search & Rescue team based at Aylesbury fire station are continuing to work at the site of the Didcot A power station in Oxfordshire following the partial collapse of a building at the site.

About 4.00pm on Tuesday 23rd February 2016 demolition workers were working in the turbine hall of the former coal fired Didcot A plant in south Oxfordshire, which closed in 2013, when part of the building collapsed.

One person is known to have died, five people are being treated in hospital and three people are still missing. A further 50 people were treated for dust inhalation at the scene shortly after the building collapsed.

The families of those known to be missing have visited the site, supported by Family Liaison Officers from Thames Valley Police.

Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: ‘We remain committed and determined to return the missing people to their families, and work continues overnight.

We are working with structural engineers and demolition experts to establish a safe way of working on site. In addition the military is supporting the search for the missing people. They will be using a mini remote control vehicle to assist with the search for survivors at the site.

This provides us with enhanced capability and their equipment and expertise will be invaluable.‘

Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: ‘We are continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive and all the emergency services to understand the cause of this incident.‘

The South Central Ambulance Service remains on site to deal with any recovered casualties.

South Oxfordshire District Council Environmental Health has confirmed there are no air quality issues associated with the dust cloud that formed yesterday.