Thousands evacuated for second time in days as cracks raise fears $165m tower in Sydney will collapse

A moving building is continuing to cause alarm in Australia.

Residents who reported "cracking" noises in a recently completed Sydney high-rise apartment block have been evacuated for a second time this week.

Two-thirds of those who live in the 36-story apartment high-rise at Sydney’s Olympic Park had to find alternative accommodation for Christmas, some sleeping in their cars.

Engineers are said to be working round the clock to fix problems found on the 10th floor.

Opal Tower: Engineers have attempted to address questions from emotional residents about why they have been told to again evacuate the damaged building. Report on 7 News at 6pm. #OpalTower #7News pic.twitter.com/qBXTCdxaWP

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 27, 2018

The more than 3,000 people living in or near the Opal Tower complex were previously evacuated on Monday after residents reported the cracks and firefighters and engineers entered to determine whether the building is in danger of collapse.

Experts using sensitive monitoring equipment determined the $165m building, completed in August, had moved between 1 and 2 millimetres, according to police Detective Superintendent Philip Rogerson.

Police reportedly had to use heavy equipment to force open doors to allow residents to escape. An exclusion zone with a radius of 1km was established around the building, forcing the evacuation of neighbouring buildings and the closure of roads and a train station.

New South Wales police said in a statement that the alarm was raised by residents who reported hearing “cracking noises” throughout the morning.

The tower, which looms over the central site of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has 392 apartments, a retail area and a childcare centre.

Water and gas services were shut off and the tower was being isolated from the power grid, Wright said.

Meriton, the operator of the neighbouring building, said in an email to residents that there was “potential for the tower to collapse.”

Sydney Olympic Park: Police have been told that residents at the Opal Tower heard cracking noises throughout the morning. "A number of residents left the building of their accord." #SydneyOlympicPark #7News https://t.co/K3i1UP4Woc

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 24, 2018

A resident of the Opal Tower told the Nine News network he heard a loud bang as if something in the building had “snapped.”

Another resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation there were cracks on the building’s 12th and 13th floors.

“I’m concerned, of course,” he said. “A few days ago the doors looked different like they couldn’t close properly. And you do feel (movement) sometimes when there’s a strong wind.”