Residents in Navan, Co Meath have spoken about how people in the area had a lucky escape after a crane partially collapsed this morning.
The incident happened at a building site located in a busy residential part of the town between Brews Hill and Emmet Terrace shortly before midday.
A block of apartments is currently being developed at the construction site.
It is understood the crane was being used to remove a skip from the site at the time of its partial collapse.
The arms of the crane landed in the back garden of a house in Emmet Terrace, causing significant damage.
Meanwhile, the skip fell on the bonnet of a van that was parked between the building site and housing estate.
However there have been no reports of any injuries.
Four units of the Meath County Fire and Rescue Service, two from Navan and two from the nearby town of Trim, along with gardaí attended the scene.
The area remains sealed off as plans are being put in place to remove the crane.
It is understood that this will be a difficult task and will require the use of another specialist crane to remove the one which partially collapsed.
Tammy Dunne, whose mother lives in the house next door to the back garden where the crane came down, said it sounded like an explosion.
"There is a small furniture factory in the back garden of the house next door and the two lads had just got out of their van and went into the factory.
"The skip fell on the van and if the two lads had still been in it, they surely would have been killed."
Ms Dunne also said a painter had been working at the back of the houses.
"He had just taken his lunch and when he heard the noise, he ran back around into the garden.
"All the tins of paint where he had been working had been crushed. He was shaking like a leaf."
Ms Dunne's mother, Margaret added that the crane snapped telephone and broadband lines as it came down.
Meath County Council is currently working with a contractor to develop 12 social housing units at the building site in question, which will be a mix of one-bed and two-bed apartments as well as duplex apartments.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the local authority said: Meath County Council is aware of an incident involving a crane that occurred at a building site at Emmet Terrace/Brews Hill.
"Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service is at the scene. No injuries have been reported at this time.
"The council is engaging with the contractors in relation to this incident," the spokesperson added.
