One killed in Toronto theatre collapse

A disused movie theatre in downtown Toronto that collapsed into a next-door language school killed one person and injured 14.

A disused movie theatre in downtown Toronto that collapsed into a next-door language school killed one person and injured 14.

The injured, including three children, were pulled from the debris and transported to nearby hospitals yesterday. About 100 rescue workers with dogs were searching through the rubble to see if anyone was still trapped.

The building, the Uptown theatre, was closed in September and was being demolished. Demolition workers were among those rescued after the back of the theatre tumbled into the English as a second language school..

Police said the one death was an adult male and was confirmed dead on the scene.

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The Uptown, on the edge of one of Toronto's most fashionable shopping districts, collapsed at mid-morning, sliding through the roof of the next-door language school.

The Uptown opened in 1920 as a vaudeville house and movie theatre. It was damaged by fire in 1960, and by its final years was looking the worse for wear.

The theatre showed its last film during this year's Toronto International Film Festival, and developers plan to erect a five-storey condominium building on the site.