The collapse was also witnessed by a police officer, who was writing up a two vehicle crash on the same corner.



"I just hope they don't condemn these [nearby] buildings," said local contractor Nick Fruean, 32, who rents a storage unit next to the collapsed building. "It's not totally surprising to me," he said. "These are old brick walls which aren't always maintained, with a large surface area ... They just come tumbling down."