Sydney Opal Tower: Thousands evacuated after 'crack'

As many as 3,000 people have been evacuated after residents of a newly completed tower block in Australia reported hearing "cracking noises".

Police confirmed they had found a crack in the 33-storey Opal Tower, in Sydney Olympic Park, following reports of the noise on the 10th floor.

Engineers said the high-rise tower has moved up to 2mm, local media reported.

A 1km (0.6 mile) evacuation zone, which also affected other buildings, was put in place amid safety fears.

An email to residents of a nearby apartment block said the evacuation had been ordered because "there is a potential for the tower to collapse", according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Specialists were due to enter the 10th floor to inspect the crack and assess whether the building was safe, Greg White, a spokesman for New South Wales Fire And Rescue, told reporters.

He said police had been called at about 14:35 local time (03:45 GMT) about a "loud crack".