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| Man dies in suspected gas blast | Man dies in suspected gas blast |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man has died in a suspected gas explosion which ripped through three houses in north-west London. | A man has died in a suspected gas explosion which ripped through three houses in north-west London. |
| A second man and a teenage girl, pulled from rubble, were also hurt in the blast in Stanley Road, South Harrow. | |
| Fire crews are now using specialist listening equipment to search for anyone else who may be trapped. | |
| Neighbour Paul Redmond, 47, said the blast had rocked his home: "I was terrified, I feared for my life. I've never heard a bang like it." | Neighbour Paul Redmond, 47, said the blast had rocked his home: "I was terrified, I feared for my life. I've never heard a bang like it." |
| The courier company manager said that two houses on the street were completely destroyed and another was badly damaged. | The courier company manager said that two houses on the street were completely destroyed and another was badly damaged. |
| He had been putting his three children, Conor, eight, and daughters Aisling, 11, and Ciara, 13, to bed when the explosion happened at around 2140 BST. | He had been putting his three children, Conor, eight, and daughters Aisling, 11, and Ciara, 13, to bed when the explosion happened at around 2140 BST. |
| It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened National Grid spokeswoman 'We heard voice from rubble' "I threw some clothes on them and we ran straight downstairs. Bits of rubble were still falling off next door and people were in the street searching for survivors." | It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened National Grid spokeswoman 'We heard voice from rubble' "I threw some clothes on them and we ran straight downstairs. Bits of rubble were still falling off next door and people were in the street searching for survivors." |
| A London Ambulance Service spokesman said a 26-year-old man suffering from a serious head injury and a 17-year-old girl, suffering from 20% burns, had been taken to hospital. The man was later released. | |
| The dead man's body was found in rubble. | |
| Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the scene at about 2140 BST on Wednesday and police sealed off surrounding roads and set up a cordon. | |
| John Gaffney, station manager for London Fire Brigade, said: "At this point we are assessing if anyone else was involved and we are still searching with specialist listening equipment." | |
| Glass on streets | |
| The process would continue for a number of hours, he said, but if no sounds were heard the building would be made safe early on Thursday morning and police sniffer dogs brought in. | |
| He said two houses had been completely destroyed by the explosion and another had been partly damaged. Glass from the blast had been found in a neighbouring street. | |
| A spokeswoman for Harrow Council said about 40 adults and children had to be evacuated from homes in Stanley Road and taken to a Royal British Legion building nearby. | A spokeswoman for Harrow Council said about 40 adults and children had to be evacuated from homes in Stanley Road and taken to a Royal British Legion building nearby. |
| "We are sorting out emergency accommodation for everybody. Some people have medical requirements and we are making sure they are attended to." | "We are sorting out emergency accommodation for everybody. Some people have medical requirements and we are making sure they are attended to." |
| Residents of nearby streets were held at police cordons for a number of hours before being allowed home late on Wednesday night. | |
| Gas engineers are at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blast. | Gas engineers are at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blast. |
| A National Grid spokeswoman said: "They will carry out some checks. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened." | A National Grid spokeswoman said: "They will carry out some checks. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened." |
| Harrow resident Daniel Evans described the moment the blast happened: "I was sitting down with my girlfriend watching TV and heard this loud bang and my flat started shaking. | Harrow resident Daniel Evans described the moment the blast happened: "I was sitting down with my girlfriend watching TV and heard this loud bang and my flat started shaking. |
| "I've come out of my flat and everyone's started to look around. I've actually walked up to the road where the emergency services are going and I've walked round the corner and I've just seen literally no house at all left, basically, and there's glass, bricks, smoke, dust everywhere." | "I've come out of my flat and everyone's started to look around. I've actually walked up to the road where the emergency services are going and I've walked round the corner and I've just seen literally no house at all left, basically, and there's glass, bricks, smoke, dust everywhere." |
| Another neighbour, Dan Llewelyn-Hall, said the explosion blew out the windows and doors of his own home. | |
| "Looked out the window and the two houses were completely razed to the ground." | |
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| Police attend the scene of the explosion | Police attend the scene of the explosion |
| Were you in Harrow during the explosion? Do you live in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Were you in Harrow during the explosion? Do you live in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can also send pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 or short code 61124 | You can also send pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 or short code 61124 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |