LONDON

Seven people were seriously injured when part of a ceiling collapsed on the audience at Shaftesbury Avenue's Apollo Theatre on Thursday evening, the London Ambulance Service stated.

Approximately 720 theatre goers were watching the performance of  "The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time" late on Thursday evening when the theatre's ornate plasterwork ceiling collapsed and brought down part of the lighting rig.

A spokesperson for the capital's Ambulance Service said that they were called to the theatre after 8.00pm London local time and added that according to the latest information, 76 walking patients were treated, 51of whom were subsequently taken to several hospitals. The service noted that seven people had suffered  serious injuries but there were no fatalities.

London Fire Brigade's service arrived on the scene shortly after the incident along with the Metropolitan police who assisted injured people being taken to hospitals by London buses. When people were leaving the theatre, some were seen with cuts and bruises, in distress and covered with dust, eye witnesses said.

 London Metropolitan police confirmed that an investigation was under way on the incident.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on the incident from his official Twitter account saying, "I have been updated regularly on the Apollo incident. I am grateful for the fast work of the emergency services in helping the injured."

The venue is located in London's busy Shaftesbury Avenue, the heart of theatreland in London. The Grade II-listed Apollo theatre was built in 1901, and has the capacity to seat 775 over four levels.

englishnews@aa.com.tr