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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Gas explosion destroys city house | Gas explosion destroys city house |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Forty people have been evacuated from a street in Birmingham after a gas explosion at a house. | Forty people have been evacuated from a street in Birmingham after a gas explosion at a house. |
| The blast happened at 1540 BST on Holly Road, in the Handsworth area of the city. | The blast happened at 1540 BST on Holly Road, in the Handsworth area of the city. |
| It is not yet known whether anyone has been injured. The fire service said the house appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion. | It is not yet known whether anyone has been injured. The fire service said the house appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion. |
| Gas and electricity suppliers are being contacted and the area has been cordoned off. | Gas and electricity suppliers are being contacted and the area has been cordoned off. |
| Police said the incident involved "a severe explosion and a small fire in an end-terraced Victorian property". | |
| 'Bomb's hit it' | |
| "The one property has been destroyed and structural damage has been caused to adjoining properties," a spokesman said. | |
| The fire service has sent for technical rescue teams which will search the property for any casualties "as soon as they are able to safely", he added. | |
| There have been no reports of anyone being hit by falling debris. | |
| One eye witness told the BBC: "It just looks like a bomb's hit it. It's collapsed in on itself. | One eye witness told the BBC: "It just looks like a bomb's hit it. It's collapsed in on itself. |
| "There's bricks and rubble strewn across the side of the street. | "There's bricks and rubble strewn across the side of the street. |
| "There's big black smoke everywhere." | |
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