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| Leicester explosion: Four killed in sudden blast that destroyed shop and shook homes, police confirm | Leicester explosion: Four killed in sudden blast that destroyed shop and shook homes, police confirm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four people have died after an explosion and subsequent fire at a shop in Leicester, local police have confirmed. | Four people have died after an explosion and subsequent fire at a shop in Leicester, local police have confirmed. |
| Four others remain in hospital, one with serious injuries. | Four others remain in hospital, one with serious injuries. |
| The sudden blast took place at 7pm on Sunday about a mile west of the city centre and saw police cordon off around 60 homes on Carlisle Street and Hinckley Road. | |
| Leicestershire Fire and Rescue sent six fire engines to the scene, and said the property had suffered a "pancake collapse". | |
| Firefighters worked through the night to dig through rubble and tackle the explosion's subsequent blaze. | Firefighters worked through the night to dig through rubble and tackle the explosion's subsequent blaze. |
| Police believe there may still be people unaccounted for after the incident, and emergency crews are continuing a "search and rescue" operation at the site on Hinckley Road. | Police believe there may still be people unaccounted for after the incident, and emergency crews are continuing a "search and rescue" operation at the site on Hinckley Road. |
| Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake when the explosion first occurred. | Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake when the explosion first occurred. |
| The two-storey shop at the centre of events on Hinckley Road, with a residential flat situated above it, suffered a "pancake collapse" as a result of the incident, according to a fire and rescue spokesman. | The two-storey shop at the centre of events on Hinckley Road, with a residential flat situated above it, suffered a "pancake collapse" as a result of the incident, according to a fire and rescue spokesman. |
| Superintendent Shane O'Neill, of Leicestershire Police, said: "There are four confirmed fatalities at this stage and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital. | Superintendent Shane O'Neill, of Leicestershire Police, said: "There are four confirmed fatalities at this stage and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital. |
| "The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties. | "The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties. |
| "Once the site is deemed to be safe a joint investigation with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will begin looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which at this stage is not being linked to terrorism." | "Once the site is deemed to be safe a joint investigation with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will begin looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which at this stage is not being linked to terrorism." |
| Andrew Brodie, the assistant chief fire officer for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, described the "tremendous effort" of crews as they continued to dig through rubble and tackle the blaze. | Andrew Brodie, the assistant chief fire officer for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, described the "tremendous effort" of crews as they continued to dig through rubble and tackle the blaze. |
| Mr Brodie also said on Twitter that work was continuing to ensure those directly affected by the incident were being looked after. | Mr Brodie also said on Twitter that work was continuing to ensure those directly affected by the incident were being looked after. |
| He had earlier described conditions for firefighters as "arduous" on a "bitterly cold night". | He had earlier described conditions for firefighters as "arduous" on a "bitterly cold night". |
| Speaking to Sky News, Kat Pattinson, who lives on the same road as the fire, said: "We are down the same street - about 500 metres from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook. | Speaking to Sky News, Kat Pattinson, who lives on the same road as the fire, said: "We are down the same street - about 500 metres from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook. |
| "We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside. | "We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside. |
| "There is just an awful lot of smoke here at the moment and the whole area is cordoned off." | "There is just an awful lot of smoke here at the moment and the whole area is cordoned off." |
| One BBC journalist, John Alexander, said: "I live about 80 yards away from where it happened. | One BBC journalist, John Alexander, said: "I live about 80 yards away from where it happened. |
| "I felt a tremor, what felt like an earthquake shock and I heard a very low boom that sounded like a very, very fast release of pressure. | "I felt a tremor, what felt like an earthquake shock and I heard a very low boom that sounded like a very, very fast release of pressure. |
| "I thought my house was going to fall down on top of me and all my neighbours have said the same thing. | "I thought my house was going to fall down on top of me and all my neighbours have said the same thing. |
| "I saw one guy get pulled out and he'll be very lucky if he wasn't killed." | "I saw one guy get pulled out and he'll be very lucky if he wasn't killed." |
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