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Firefighters tackle blaze after explosion at east London block of flats Firefighters tackle blaze after explosion at east London block of flats
(35 minutes later)
About 60 firefighters are tackling a large blaze in a residential block of flats in east London following an explosion. About 60 firefighters are tackling a large blaze in a residential block of flats in east London after an explosion.
At least five people have been injured, police have confirmed. Four people at the scene were taken by London ambulance service to an east London hospital while another person presented themselves at hospital with injuries. At least five people have been injured, police have confirmed. Four people were taken by London ambulance service to an east London hospital while another person presented themselves at hospital with injuries.
Two more people are currently being treated at the scene. The severity of the injuries are not known at this stage. Police said they await an update on conditions. A spokesman for the London fire brigade said: “There is a large fire still going on. We have 10 fire engines and 60 firefighters at the scene.”
A spokesman for the London fire brigade said: “There is a large fire still going on. It’s a 10-pump fire, which means we have 10 fire engines and 60 firefighters at the scene.” The fire service was called to Southend Arterial Road, Hornchurch , shortly after 5pm on Monday. They confirmed an explosion took place on the ground floor of a residential building, which has three floors.
A spokesperson for the London ambulance service said they did not know if anyone else was still inside the building. A London ambulance service spokeswoman said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene including three ambulance crews … The first of our medics arrived in under five minutes. We have now treated four patients at the scene and taken them all to hospital. We remain on scene.”
The fire service was called to the scene at Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, shortly after 5pm on Monday. They confirmed that an explosion took place on the ground floor of a residential building, which has three floors. She said they did not know if anyone else was still inside the building.
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said: “We await an update as to the number of people injured. At this early stage officers are unable to confirm the cause of the explosion but inquiries are under way.”A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said: “We await an update as to the number of people injured. At this early stage officers are unable to confirm the cause of the explosion but inquiries are under way.”
#Hornchurch explosion ardleigh green. 11 fire engines 10 ambulance 8 police 2 brigade units and OSU! pic.twitter.com/GBFwxMNR7Q#Hornchurch explosion ardleigh green. 11 fire engines 10 ambulance 8 police 2 brigade units and OSU! pic.twitter.com/GBFwxMNR7Q
Transport for London said the A127 Southend Arterial Road was shut between Ardleigh Green Road and Bryant Avenue.Transport for London said the A127 Southend Arterial Road was shut between Ardleigh Green Road and Bryant Avenue.
Jason Smedley, 46, managing director of Nail Harmony UK, close to the building, said he was in his office when the explosion happened. “We felt the whole building shake,” he said, adding that he could soon see “flames billowing”.
Smedley said the front of the flats had been “blown out” across the road. “We pulled people back and told them to get out of the way,” he said, adding that he and his staff brought people back to their office to give them shelter.
“Unfortunately there was a woman and her daughter, [who] were in the flat above, [who] heard the explosion, ran out, and we brought them back ... [They] had just their dressing gowns on, so we just gave them tea and blankets. They’ve got nowhere to live tonight,” he said.