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Explosion destroys house near York Explosion destroys house near York
(35 minutes later)
Emergency services have been called to the scene of an explosion that has destroyed a house in Haxby, near York. A house near York has been destroyed in what is believed to have been a gas explosion.
The detached home was reduced to rubble and adjacent properties were badly damaged. North Yorkshire police said emergency services were at the scene in the village of Haxby. The area has been cordoned off and neighbouring houses evacuated.
Images posted on Twitter showed debris scattered around the residential street. Police were unable to give any details about any possible casualties. Police said there was at least one casualty, but they were unable to provide any further information.
A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: “We are at the scene of a major incident in Haxby. We are working alongside colleagues from the fire service and ambulance service. There is no risk to the wider public, but some disruption will be caused.” Three fire crews attended the scene with a hazardous response team, while firefighters carried out a search of what was left of the property.
The area around the scene of the blast was cordoned off and a relief centre has been set up in Haxby Memorial hall for people forced to leave their homes. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 7.30am on Friday. A police spokesperson said they were treating the explosion as a “major incident” but that there was no wider risk to the public.
More details soon … A relief centre has been set up for those displaced by the incident at the nearby Haxby Memorial Hall.
Here's the scene at the house in Haxby. Police say there's at least one casualty. pic.twitter.com/MpdAr16xRM
Residents in the area say they believe the family who live in the house are currently on holiday.
A police spokesperson said: “Emergency services are currently at the scene of what is believed to be a gas explosion at a property in Springwood in Haxby near York.
“Extensive damage has been caused to the property and surrounding homes, and residents have been evacuated.
“A cordon remains in place and there will be disruption to the surrounding area as emergency services work to protect the wider community.”
The explosion sounded like a crash, one local resident said. The man, who did not wish to be named, was around 150 yards away at the time and described the loud bang that he said had “flattened” the property and damaged others nearby.
“The house has been completely flattened. It sounded as if a bus or something had crashed into a house, or like an aeroplane crash,” he told the Press Association.
“All the properties adjacent to the one that’s blown up have got damaged windows and garages.”
Windows at St Margaret Clitherow church in Holly Tree Lane and the presbytery are also understood to have been damaged.
The man said other people 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.”