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| Birmingham explosion: Woman found dead and man seriously hurt | Birmingham explosion: Woman found dead and man seriously hurt |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
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| Watch: Drone captures aftermath of explosion, showing completely destroyed house | Watch: Drone captures aftermath of explosion, showing completely destroyed house |
| A woman has been found dead at the scene of a major gas explosion that destroyed a house in Birmingham and damaged others. | A woman has been found dead at the scene of a major gas explosion that destroyed a house in Birmingham and damaged others. |
| "We're very sad to confirm that a woman has been found dead at the scene," West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said. | "We're very sad to confirm that a woman has been found dead at the scene," West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said. |
| A man also suffered life-threatening injuries in the blast in Dulwich Road, Kingstanding, which happened just after 20:30 BST on Sunday. | A man also suffered life-threatening injuries in the blast in Dulwich Road, Kingstanding, which happened just after 20:30 BST on Sunday. |
| Six other homes were damaged and properties were evacuated. | Six other homes were damaged and properties were evacuated. |
| The man was rescued from the house by people at the scene but had suffered "very serious" injuries, the ambulance service said. | The man was rescued from the house by people at the scene but had suffered "very serious" injuries, the ambulance service said. |
| The casualty remained in a "critical" condition in hospital, emergency services stated on Monday afternoon. | |
| Four other men suffered more minor injuries and were discharged by paramedics. | Four other men suffered more minor injuries and were discharged by paramedics. |
| Investigations at the scene are continuing | Investigations at the scene are continuing |
| Martin Ward-White, the incident commander for WMFS, said the woman who died was found "relatively quickly within the property that exploded". | Martin Ward-White, the incident commander for WMFS, said the woman who died was found "relatively quickly within the property that exploded". |
| Footage on social media showed flames engulfing the terraced red brick house. | Footage on social media showed flames engulfing the terraced red brick house. |
| "The next steps for the fire service and gas board will be to start the investigation into what caused this explosion," Mr Ward-White said. "We know it is gas but what actually caused that gas explosion?" | |
| The service said it could be days before the exact cause of the blast is known. | The service said it could be days before the exact cause of the blast is known. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
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| Footage on social media shows flames, damage and debris from the terraced house in Kingstanding | Footage on social media shows flames, damage and debris from the terraced house in Kingstanding |
| Residents said they had clambered past flaming debris and through rubble to reach the man. | Residents said they had clambered past flaming debris and through rubble to reach the man. |
| Kelly Monaghan, chief inspector of West Midlands Police, said: "There [were]... some really heroic actions from members of the community last night." | |
| 'Heroic' community praised for gas blast response | 'Heroic' community praised for gas blast response |
| "Everyone was watching, the house was on fire, nobody was going in, so we could see a way in - so we went in the house, me and about a dozen others," a man, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency. | "Everyone was watching, the house was on fire, nobody was going in, so we could see a way in - so we went in the house, me and about a dozen others," a man, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency. |
| I am currently at the scene of a major explosion in Kingstanding where one person has tragically lost their life. My officers were first on scene last night, and I am told of some truly heroic actions by local residents. To those concerned, we thank you. Insp Rachel Darby | I am currently at the scene of a major explosion in Kingstanding where one person has tragically lost their life. My officers were first on scene last night, and I am told of some truly heroic actions by local residents. To those concerned, we thank you. Insp Rachel Darby |
| Kiera Parkinson's boyfriend Callum Attwood was among those who rushed inside and she said the day had been "a complete tragedy". | Kiera Parkinson's boyfriend Callum Attwood was among those who rushed inside and she said the day had been "a complete tragedy". |
| "But we are so proud of every single person that risked their lives to go in there and help somebody else," she added. | "But we are so proud of every single person that risked their lives to go in there and help somebody else," she added. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
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| Watch: Fire chief thanks community after "sad and tragic" incident | Watch: Fire chief thanks community after "sad and tragic" incident |
| A neighbour who lives six doors away from the explosion said he heard a loud bang and came out to see efforts to help. | A neighbour who lives six doors away from the explosion said he heard a loud bang and came out to see efforts to help. |
| "[They] managed to pull somebody out of the rubble but as he was getting pulled out he was saying there was somebody left inside but they wasn't able to help any further as the flames started to get bigger and bigger," he said. | "[They] managed to pull somebody out of the rubble but as he was getting pulled out he was saying there was somebody left inside but they wasn't able to help any further as the flames started to get bigger and bigger," he said. |
| Kiera Parkinson said the explosion had been "a complete tragedy" | Kiera Parkinson said the explosion had been "a complete tragedy" |
| Kashif Mahmood was driving past with his family when the house exploded and the shockwave smashed into his car. | Kashif Mahmood was driving past with his family when the house exploded and the shockwave smashed into his car. |
| "All the airbags, windows, roof were broken," he said. | "All the airbags, windows, roof were broken," he said. |
| "It was really shocking and it was really scary. We are all OK but my kids are still in shock." | "It was really shocking and it was really scary. We are all OK but my kids are still in shock." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Phil Mackie, BBC Midlands correspondent | Phil Mackie, BBC Midlands correspondent |
| It is a scene of devastation today. The blast destroyed one house and has caused severe damage to several others. | It is a scene of devastation today. The blast destroyed one house and has caused severe damage to several others. |
| Debris is strewn across the street and one car which was upended has now been moved. | Debris is strewn across the street and one car which was upended has now been moved. |
| Fire investigators, working alongside specialists from the gas company, have begun sifting through the wreckage as they try to determine what caused the explosion. | Fire investigators, working alongside specialists from the gas company, have begun sifting through the wreckage as they try to determine what caused the explosion. |
| Some residents who were evacuated last night have been allowed to return to their homes this morning to collect any essentials but have been told they may not be allowed to stay in their homes again tonight. | Some residents who were evacuated last night have been allowed to return to their homes this morning to collect any essentials but have been told they may not be allowed to stay in their homes again tonight. |
| Others simply can't access their properties because the damage is so extensive. | Others simply can't access their properties because the damage is so extensive. |
| Ch Insp Monaghan, of West Midlands Police, said there were no suspicious circumstances "at this stage". | |
| Asked about reports the house had been up for sale and that the boiler had needed replacing, fire service area commander Alex Shapland stated: "That may form part of the investigation. | |
| "As I say, we've got colleagues and professionals who will be looking at all of the different circumstances." | |
| Mr Shapland said a multi-agency inquiry was now under way and added: "We have searched the properties we can get into. | |
| "We have liaised and spoken to all of the occupants of all the different properties." | |
| Kashif Mahmood was driving past the house when it exploded and said it was "really scary" | Kashif Mahmood was driving past the house when it exploded and said it was "really scary" |
| Twenty-one people were evacuated and had gone to stay at other houses and hotels provided by the city council. | Twenty-one people were evacuated and had gone to stay at other houses and hotels provided by the city council. |
| Emma Core, assistant manager at the nearby Kingstanding Inn, said the council asked the pub to take in people who had been evacuated. | Emma Core, assistant manager at the nearby Kingstanding Inn, said the council asked the pub to take in people who had been evacuated. |
| "They were all feeling sad and low, worrying about their belongings. Some people came, they had not got shoes, they only had slippers on their feet," she said. | "They were all feeling sad and low, worrying about their belongings. Some people came, they had not got shoes, they only had slippers on their feet," she said. |
| Lami Charlery said his family only has the "clothes on our backs" after having to leave their home | Lami Charlery said his family only has the "clothes on our backs" after having to leave their home |
| Lami Charlery was among the neighbours given a temporary home in the pub and said his house "is such a goner". | Lami Charlery was among the neighbours given a temporary home in the pub and said his house "is such a goner". |
| "There is nothing we can do so we have nothing," he said. | "There is nothing we can do so we have nothing," he said. |
| "The only thing is clothes on our backs. All the money is in the house, my car is at the house, everything." | "The only thing is clothes on our backs. All the money is in the house, my car is at the house, everything." |
| Nearby Warren Farm Primary School was closed on Monday after the fire service said its windows were damaged. | Nearby Warren Farm Primary School was closed on Monday after the fire service said its windows were damaged. |
| West Midlands Police said Dulwich Road and surrounding roads were closed and would be "for a very long time". | West Midlands Police said Dulwich Road and surrounding roads were closed and would be "for a very long time". |
| Cadent, the gas emergency service for the West Midlands, said its teams were on site as part of the multi-agency response and added its thoughts were with those affected. | Cadent, the gas emergency service for the West Midlands, said its teams were on site as part of the multi-agency response and added its thoughts were with those affected. |
| Several other homes near the site of the explosion suffered significant damage, said police | Several other homes near the site of the explosion suffered significant damage, said police |
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