Carlton residents have described how they were forced to run for their lives as a balcony came down last night.

Fire crews and paramedics were called to the townhouse at about 6pm last night to find the huge chunk of metal on the ground, having taken out powerlines.

Resident Lulu Masilo has told Channel Nine she and her housemates got out of the way just in time.

‘I remember seeing the trees crash? and hearing that sound as well, just sounded like a terrible earthquake or something, exactly where my body was if a big slate of metal.’