Five men have died after an industrial accident at a recycling site in Birmingham.
West Midlands Police were called to the Hawkeswood Metal plant in Nechells at 8.45am on Thursday following reports that a "large concrete structure containing metal" had collapsed.
Murray MacGregor, a spokesman for the ambulance service, said the five victims had been "crushed" by the wall and nothing could be done to save them.
A sixth man, who managed to get out from under the rubble, has been taken to hospital with leg injuries which are serious but not life-threatening.
The wall that collapsed was estimated to be between 3.5m and 4.5m high.
According to the West Midlands Fire Service, the scene of the accident is "extremely challenging" as an unstable structure involving a "significant tonnage of concrete and metal" needs to be moved.
The Health and Safety Executive is assisting the police with their investigation into the industrial accident
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said: "This is a devastating incident is for everyone involved. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims' families and colleagues."
Mr Taylor added that the operation to recover their bodies is expected to take "several hours".
Several people have gathered close to the site's entrance, where they are waiting for news on their loved ones.
Police have launched an investigation into the industrial accident with the help of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Detective Superintendent Mark Payne said "several teams" of specialist officers were also supporting the families of those who died.
He added: "This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene."
West Midlands Police said a wall had collapsed at the recycling site in Nechells
There was a major blaze at the site in February - but Mr Payne said there was no evidence to suggest that fire damage had caused the wall to collapse.
Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, described accident as "devastating news" - and warned there would be serious questions to answer about what led to the men's deaths.
She said: "Nothing will bring their loved ones back but the families of those who have been killed will want answers, they will want to understand what has happened here.
"I am extremely shocked that five lives have been cut short so abruptly like this."
The Prime Minister has also expressed his condolences to the victims' families, and said he was "shocked to hear about the tragedy in Birmingham".
Hawkeswood Metal began trading more than 40 years ago.
According to the company's website, it processes more than 500,000 tonnes of scrap metal a year.
In July 2012, the company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay more than £10,000 in costs at Birmingham Crown Court after a worker trapped and broke his arm in an unguarded conveyor belt, documents from the HSE show.
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