VIDEO: Crane wreckage lifted out of Emmet Terrace garden as residents assess damage and express relief nobody was hurt

The operation to remove the stricken crane that collapsed on a Navan construction site, causing extensive damage to a van and the rear of an Emmet Terrace house is well underway.

Residents and workers in the Emmet Terrace/Brews Hill area had a very narrow escape when the arm of a giant crane being used in the construction of social housing units snapped while carrying a loaded skip crashed to the ground.

Gardai have confirmed that no injuries were reported and that Emmet Terrace remains closed to traffic while specialist lifting equipment removes the collapsed crane.

Construction work had been in progress on a site off Emmet Terrace to the rear of properties on Brews Hill and it is understood that part of the crane can be seen embedded in one of the new builds.

The skip being moved by the crane snapped and fell crushing a van parked in the laneway accessing the site. It is believed workmen had been in the vehicle moments earlier.

The steel arm of the stricken crane crashed through the rear wall of an Emmet Tce house, destroying the garden but miraculously stopping just short of the causing major structural damage.

The uppermost part of the static crane arm could be seen embedded in window frames of the housing development.

It's understood that some local businesses and homes suffered temporary power and broadband outages as a result of wires being hit in the crane collapse.

Meath County Council is currently developing 12 social housing units at the site in a mix of one bed and two bed apartment and duplex apartments.

Tammy Dunne, whose mother lives in the house next door to the back garden where the crane came down, told RTE the collapse sounded like an explosion.

"There is a small furniture factory in the back garden of the house next door and the two lads had just got out of their van and went into the factory.

"The skip fell on the van and if the two lads had still been in it, they surely would have been killed."

Another local resident spoke of their shock at what had happened but also their relief that nobody had been injured.

"I was working from home and I heard a loud bang. Myself and my husband both ran outside.

"Our first thought was we were just so relieved that nobody was injured or hurt. It was unbelieveable. It could have went so differently."

"Whoever was in the van had just got out of it so they had a lucky escape. It was so scary.

Their home escaped relatively unscathed with just some minor damage to their wall and gate but their neighbour's house bore the brunt with extensive damage caused to the property and the arm of the crane narrowly avoiding hitting the house itself.

"I went into my neighbour's house last night and I couldn't believe the extent of the damage. If they had been in the garden at the time.

"Then I was thinking, what if the crane came down on our house or if I had been out in the garden or hanging clothes on the line. It's so scary."

Asked for comment on when work on the site would resume and if an investigation into the incident would be conducted, Meath Co Council said it is "continuing to engage with the Contractors in relation to this incident and has no further comment to make at this time."