Updated: MCAST Mechanical Engineering Institute students evacuated

MCAST students at the Mechanical Engineering workshops were evacuated from the building this morning, in fear that the building might collapse.

However, architects certified the building to be safe and students were back in their places by 10.30 a.m.

A spokesman for MCAST said this afternoon that before the students were allowed in the workshops, the architects were asked to assess the situation and after a site inspection, a certificate confirming that the building was fully safe for its intended use was issued.

Sources said that after an extra floor was added to the building last year, the ground floor windows started to buckle and cracks started to appear. Stone blocks had to be placed on the window sills as a preventive measure.

The students were evacuated this morning after some of the second floor windows were found to be broken.

The spokesman said that preventive measures have been taken to stabilise the building.

Further studies are also being undertaken so that remedial measures which wereprojected to be carried out during the holiday period could be designed accordingly.