Full Breakdown
Hundreds Evacuated from East London Tower Blocks Over Structural Safety Fears
By Drooid · · How we work
Emergency Evacuation and Immediate Risks
In the early hours of Friday, more than 200 residents from three tower blocks—Centurion Tower, St Vincent Court and Sovereign Tower—in Canning Town, east London, were ordered to leave after engineers identified an “imminent risk to life” linked to a transfer slab beneath the buildings. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) received the first call at 10:42 p.m. on Thursday and dispatched a fire engine from Poplar Fire Station. A site inspection on 21 October confirmed the engineers’ concerns, prompting Prime Property Management, which manages the Royal Gateway development, to notify residents on 22 October 2026 that evacuation was essential.
Background and Structural Concerns
The three blocks are part of the Royal Gateway development, built roughly a decade ago. The risk was discovered while preparing building-safety cases; structural engineers reviewing the original drawings flagged a potentially disastrous crack in the concrete transfer slab that supports the towers. Prime’s statement said the issue emerged during this safety-case work and that investigations are underway to determine whether similar risks affect nearby buildings Prince Court and Thanet Tower.
Official Responses
Newham Council confirmed it had been alerted by the LFB on Thursday night and is providing emergency accommodation for residents of about 210 households. The council has set up a rest centre and continues to coordinate with Prime and fire services. Prime Property Management emphasized that the decision to evacuate was not taken lightly and that a dedicated phone line, email address and out-of-hours support remain available for affected occupants. Prime also noted that relevant government bodies have been notified to seek urgent action.
Impact on Residents
Evacuees were initially offered beds in a nearby council building, but many remain in temporary accommodation without clear timelines for return. Residents report uncertainty over reimbursement for relocation costs and express frustration at the lack of information about how long the structural defect has existed or whether the buildings were originally built to code.
Next Steps
Engineers are urgently investigating the transfer slab and will assess other nearby towers for similar defects. Prime pledged to keep residents informed as investigations progress and to facilitate a safe return once the risk is mitigated. Newham Council and the LFB continue to monitor the situation, with further updates expected as the safety assessments conclude.