INSURANCE NEWS

An office block in central Manchester has been destroyed by a major fire and is at risk of collapse.

Firefighters arrived at the five-storey property in the early hours of the morning to discover a well established blaze already taking hold. The fire was so fierce that it caused another building on the opposite side of Dale Street to catch fire.

It is understood that firefighters have managed to control the fire but it is likely that the central city area will be closed for sometime because of ongoing safety concerns.

"The building is entirely surrounded by emergency scaffolding and there is a real risk of collapse," said a spokesperson from Greater Manchester Fire Service.

So far there are no reports of any casualties at the scene although there are concerns that some people may have been sleeping rough in the building and its surrounding area.

Accidents such as building fires highlight the need for all businesses to realise the importance of having valid and adequate insurance to help protect against the financial cost of potential incidents.