New footage has exposed what the building which caught fire in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday afternoon was often used for before the raging blaze broke out.
It comes as authorities on Saturday issued a warning after an external wall on the Surry Hills building moved 70mm overnight, prompting them to establish an exclusion zone for at least another week.
The fire erupted on Randle Street just after 4pm and was later upgraded to a ‘10th alarm’, the most severe level.
Bystanders watched in shock as flames and smoke engulfed the sky, the plumes seen from several suburbs away.
The building broke out on Thursday afternoon.
Now, video has emerged which shows teenagers often hung out inside the abandoned building, exploring its many floors as recently as days earlier.
The clip, posted to TikTok, shows teenagers wandering through the now-ravaged building.
A young person is seen precariously hanging off the edge of a high beam.
Speaking anonymously to The Saturday Telegraph, one teen said it was sad the building was destroyed.
“It was a cool place to explore and watch the sunset,” he said, adding it was mostly empty except for some “old office stuff”.
Videos posted to TikTok showed teens wandering through the abandoned building.
“It got popular off TikTok … I never saw anyone lighting fires, but I’m sure people do it.”
It comes as two 13-year-old boys handed themselves into separate police stations on Thursday night and are assisting police with their inquiries.
No charges have been laid.
NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said officers are aware of “three or four” other young people who were present at the building, and asked them to come forward with their parents to “put their side of the story”.
The building collapsed after the fire took hold. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP
Specialist teams are continuing to monitor the site after the heritage listed building caught ablaze in Sydney’s biggest fire in more than 50 years.
Unstable walls are being monitors with laser measuring tools and drones, Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement on Saturday morning.
Onlookers said the collapse “shook the ground.” Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP
“One external wall has moved 70mm over night reinforcing the commitment to maintain the current exclusions zones for community safety,” the statement reads.
“Light smouldering from deep within the rubble continues.”
It erupted on Randle Lane. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi
Firefighters remain on the scene, but it is not safe for them to enter the building to extinguish the small fires.
Initially, more than 100 firefighters worked to contain the fire as it crumbled the brick facade.
An exclusion zone, including Randle street and surrounding areas such as two apartment blocks has been set up.
An Emergency Operations Centre has been stood up to co-ordinate safe demolition of the damaged buildings.
An aerial view of the gutted building in the aftermath. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW/AFP
The NSW Police Arson Squad is continuing to investigate circumstances surrounding the fire.
There are no known injuries to the young people believed to have been involved in the fire.
Police confirmed up to 15 people were sleeping inside the former apartment building the night before, but believed they were all accounted for.
Superintendent Dewberry praised the firefighters’ heroic efforts in containing the blaze before 9pm, an incredible feat considering the very high risk that the fire could have spread to not only adjoining buildings, but leap across the street.
“I don’t think people realise how under-threat the building across the road was and how firefighters stopped that fire from spreading,” he said.
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The building was slated to be the location of a fancy hotel with a $40m redevelopment plan.
– With NCA Newswire
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