Shoppers at a Woolworths supermarket in Sydney experienced a frightening incident on Thursday afternoon when a section of the ceiling suddenly gave way, crashing down onto the checkout area.
A Sudden Collapse During Shopping
The dramatic event unfolded at the Woolworths store located within the Northbridge Plaza Shopping Centre on Sydney's north shore. A customer present at the time described their shock and relief, stating they were paying at a register just behind the one that was struck by falling debris. Photographs shared on social media showed two self-service checkout machines completely covered in plaster and rubble, with debris scattered across the floor.
Conflicting Accounts of the Immediate Aftermath
Accounts from witnesses in the immediate aftermath of the collapse differed. One shopper claimed that staff did not initially close the affected registers, with customers continuing to pay for their groceries nearby. "I asked him why they were not closing the cash registers after the accident happened," one person recounted of a conversation with a manager, "and he replied that it is fine because customers are paying at another row of registers."
However, another customer commenting on social media gave a different version of events, stating that the store was subsequently evacuated. "I was there after this happened and they ended up evacuating the store," they said. "We all had to leave our groceries and evacuate immediately."
Woolworths Responds to Safety Concerns
A spokesperson for Woolworths confirmed to the Daily Mail that the damage was caused by heavy rain from a storm that hit the area overnight. The store had been inspected by builders and temporarily reopened before the ceiling collapse occurred on Thursday afternoon.
"Following an initial clearing by builders, the store was temporarily reopened," the spokesperson explained. "However, for the safety of our customers and team, we made the decision to close the store again this afternoon after further sections of the ceiling were affected."
The company emphasised that no customers or staff members were harmed during the incident. They added that their team is following up with customers who were near the affected area and that their priority is now a full safety assessment. "Our priority is assessing the damage to ensure the store is safe to reopen," the spokesperson concluded.
