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Haxby house destroyed in explosion after loud bang Man killed in Haxby house destroyed in gas explosion
(about 1 hour later)
At least one man has died after a detached house was destroyed in what is believed to have been a gas explosion, police have confirmed. One man has died after a house was destroyed in what is believed to have been a gas explosion, police have confirmed.
North Yorkshire Police said the man was believed to be the 63-year-old resident of the property. North Yorkshire Police said the man was believed to be the 63-year-old resident of the detached property.
A loud bang was reported on Springwood in Haxby, near York, at about 07:30 GMT.A loud bang was reported on Springwood in Haxby, near York, at about 07:30 GMT.
The property was extensively damaged in the blast, and a number of others nearby were damaged. The house was extensively damaged in the blast, and a number of others nearby were also damaged.
'Completely demolished'
Insp Steve Breen, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "I have to confirm there has been one casualty, a 63-year-old man found dead in the debris.
"The identity is not confirmed as yet but we think we know who he is and we are currently speaking with his family, trying to console them."
He said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation but was not thought to be suspicious.
"What we found was a house completely demolished, with debris strewn across the road and gardens and substantial damage to neighbouring properties," he added.
Electricity supplies within a 200m radius of the scene of the incident have been switched off and will remain off for some time, police have said.
Brett Duncan, who was one of the first on the scene, said: "It was like an aeroplane had hit the house."Brett Duncan, who was one of the first on the scene, said: "It was like an aeroplane had hit the house."
"All of the car alarms were sounding, I saw debris across the street. I ran up the street and saw a pile of rubble, it was shocking."All of the car alarms were sounding, I saw debris across the street. I ran up the street and saw a pile of rubble, it was shocking.
"There was no smoke or fire at that point. Me and another gentleman just shouted for everyone to evacuate the street and that's when the smoke started, it then caught fire.""There was no smoke or fire at that point. Me and another gentleman just shouted for everyone to evacuate the street and that's when the smoke started, it then caught fire."
'Just a boom'
Paul Foster, who lives about 150 yards (140 metres) the scene, said: "There was a massive bang and the whole house shook."Paul Foster, who lives about 150 yards (140 metres) the scene, said: "There was a massive bang and the whole house shook."
"I looked out of the window and at first I couldn't see anything, I thought an aircraft could have come down."I looked out of the window and at first I couldn't see anything, I thought an aircraft could have come down.
"There was a large plume of smoke coming up."There was a large plume of smoke coming up.
"Shortly after that I heard all of the emergency service sirens coming down York Road in Haxby.""Shortly after that I heard all of the emergency service sirens coming down York Road in Haxby."
Properties adjacent to the one that has been destroyed have got damaged windows, roofs and garages.Properties adjacent to the one that has been destroyed have got damaged windows, roofs and garages.
Police believe the incident is a gas explosion but have not yet confirmed it.
Windows at St Margaret Clitherow Church on Holly Tree Lane and the presbytery are also understood to have been damaged.Windows at St Margaret Clitherow Church on Holly Tree Lane and the presbytery are also understood to have been damaged.
An unnamed eyewitness said others had told him they did not think anyone was in the property at the time.
He said: "Neighbours didn't think there was anyone there."
'Just a boom'
Marie, who lives nearby, told BBC Radio York: "It was such a large jolt and noise.Marie, who lives nearby, told BBC Radio York: "It was such a large jolt and noise.
"We were living down south when the Buncefield oil storage depot exploded off the M1 and it felt exactly the same, it was just a boom.""We were living down south when the Buncefield oil storage depot exploded off the M1 and it felt exactly the same, it was just a boom."
Another neighbour reported that the blast sounded "like a bomb going off".Another neighbour reported that the blast sounded "like a bomb going off".
Members of the public are being urged to stay indoors but police "do not believe there is a risk to general public".Members of the public are being urged to stay indoors but police "do not believe there is a risk to general public".
'Nothing left''Nothing left'
Tony Richardson, a councillor on Haxby Town Council, said: "The house is completely gone.Tony Richardson, a councillor on Haxby Town Council, said: "The house is completely gone.
"At the present time we believe five houses have been evacuated."At the present time we believe five houses have been evacuated.
"We don't know if other houses need to be evacuated until we know the cause, we are yet to establish that yet.""We don't know if other houses need to be evacuated until we know the cause, we are yet to establish that yet."
Residents have been evacuated to the nearby Memorial Hall and the road has been cordoned off. A rest centre has been established at the nearby Memorial Hall for residents requiring help and the road has been cordoned off.
"There's just nothing left," said Rob Varley on Twitter, while other people living nearby told of their homes shaking."There's just nothing left," said Rob Varley on Twitter, while other people living nearby told of their homes shaking.