Emergency services cordoned off a main street in Portobello earlier on Wednesday after masonry from an upper floor of a tenement crashed to the ground.
Large chunks of sandstone, apparently from a window lintel, could be seen on the pavement below as a police officer cordoned off the area.
Bath Street, running from the High Steet to the Promenade is one of the seaside town’s busiest thoroughfare.
The Edinburgh Reporter has contacted Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for an update, but it is unknown whether any injuries were sustained.
Fire crews were seen working from platform ladders to remove rubble and make the building safe. Access to the Coop superstore and other local businesses was restricted.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 3.20pm on Wednesday 2 October to reports of debris coming loose from a building on Bath Street in Portobello, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control mobilised two appliances, including a height appliance, to the scene.
“Firefighters ensured the area was made safe before leaving the scene.”
Colin Cornwall said: “A large chunk of red sandstone from around one of the windows of the flats above the Citizens Advice Bureau smashed to the ground.”
Another passerby said: “It was a pretty dramatic scene but everything was under control. It is one of Porty’s busiest streets with folk passing up and down to the beach so it’s very fortunate no one was hurt.”
Stephen Rafferty is a former crime correspondent at The Scotsman and was a staff reporter for the Daily Record and Edinburgh Evening News. He has freelanced for many of the Scottish and UK national newspaper titles. Got a story? Get in touch - stephen@theedinburghreporter.co.uk
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