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Man hurt in double gas explosion Man hurt in double gas explosion
(about 4 hours later)
A man is being treated in hospital for burns after two gas explosions at a former hospital in south Manchester.A man is being treated in hospital for burns after two gas explosions at a former hospital in south Manchester.
The victim, thought to be aged about 40, suffered injuries to his face, hand and back in a blast at the Withington Hospital site. The victim, a workman aged in his 40s, suffered injuries to his face, hand and back in a blast at the old Withington Hospital site in West Didsbury.
An hour later there was a second explosion, which is believed to have been caused by the first.An hour later there was a second explosion, which is believed to have been caused by the first.
The site has been evacuated and more buildings may be cleared by the emergency services. Nearby homes, schools and a police station were all evacuated but the cordon was lifted on Tuesday evening.
An investigation is under way into the cause of the blasts but it is thought a gas main may have been damaged during building work. However, a cordon remains in place around the old hospital site, which is being turned into luxury apartments.
'Like a bomb''Like a bomb'
One woman who works in a nearby building said: "We just heard a huge bang, a huge noise like a bomb going off - the whole building shook." The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to investigate the cause of the blasts but it is thought a gas main may have been damaged during building work.
Specialist teams from Greater Manchester Fire Service are searching the area to ensure everyone is accounted for. Two other people suffered minor injuries as a result of the explosions.
Pete Stephenson, of the urban search and rescue team, said it would be sending in sniffer dogs to one building which had partially collapsed.
People described hearing a noise "like a bomb"People described hearing a noise "like a bomb"
"If we have indications from the search dogs, we can carry on and use the specialist search equipment we have which is acoustic listening devices and specialist cameras," he said. One woman who works in a nearby building said: "We just heard a huge bang, a huge noise like a bomb going off - the whole building shook."
Three buildings which are in use were evacuated, said a spokesman for the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM). Specialist teams from Greater Manchester Fire Service searched the area using sniffer dogs in the partially collapsed building.
Most of the site, which is the old section of the hospital, is currently being turned into apartments. But emergency services believe that all those living in properties on site have been accounted for and there are no reports of any further casualties.
A statement from the trust said Buccleugh Lodge, the Brian Hore Unit and the hospital laundry building had been evacuated. Three buildings which are in use at the hospital were evacuated, said a spokesman for the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM).
"All outpatient appointments have been cancelled for the rest of the afternoon," said a spokesman. Appointments cancelled
"We expect services to resume as normal from tomorrow, but a decision on this will be made in conjunction with other emergency services." The trust cancelled all outpatient appointments for the remainder of the afternoon.
Station evacuated "We expect services to resume as normal from tomorrow, but a decision on this will be made in conjunction with other emergency services," said a spokesman.
Nell Lane and Elisabeth Slinger Road are closed to traffic and motorists are advised to avoid the area. Nell Lane remains closed between Princess Parkway and Elisabeth Slinger Road as the road is structurally unsafe, but residents can still get access.
Greater Manchester Police said all of the emergency services had sent "substantial resources" to the scene.
Emergency services were called to the sceneEmergency services were called to the scene
West Didsbury Police Station was also evacuated as a precaution, although officers have since returned to the building. Greater Manchester Police said all of the emergency services had sent "substantial resources" to the scene and thanked residents for their understanding.
Ch Insp Mark Gibby said emergency services worked very hard to make the area safe. Ch Supt Simon Barraclough said: "I want to thank everyone for their patience with this disruption but public safety is our main concern and we could only allow people back when we knew the site was safe.
"We appreciate there has been disruption to the lives of members of the public, however we had to put their safety first," he added. "The people living at the site of the old hospital have been given alternative accommodation as the building has been deemed structurally unsafe and no one is allowed on to the site.
"As a precaution, we are asking any homeowners still inside the police cordon to remain indoors and stay away from windows." "Everyone is believed to have been accounted for now and thankfully there do not appear to be any more casualties."
The injured man was taken to the trust's A&E department and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Manchester City Council also paid tribute to the emergency services and other agencies for their "co-ordinated" response and hard work.
The nearby Birches special school, Lancasterian school and Cavendish Road Primary School were evacuated.
Manchester City Council said all pupils were being sent home as a precautionary measure.