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| 'Gas' explosion inquiry continues | 'Gas' explosion inquiry continues |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police are investigating the cause of a blast which flattened a building in Shrewsbury, injuring 12 people. | Police are investigating the cause of a blast which flattened a building in Shrewsbury, injuring 12 people. |
| Detectives believe the Bridge Street explosion on Sunday was probably caused by a gas leak and said it was surprising that no-one was killed. | |
| Two people were seriously hurt, including a woman who was airlifted to hospital with burns, and a man who suffered spinal injuries. | Two people were seriously hurt, including a woman who was airlifted to hospital with burns, and a man who suffered spinal injuries. |
| Five people had been trapped under rubble in a car and were pulled free. | Five people had been trapped under rubble in a car and were pulled free. |
| If this had been prior to Christmas, when the shops and the streets and the pubs were a lot busier, then it could have been a significantly worse incident Fire service spokesman | If this had been prior to Christmas, when the shops and the streets and the pubs were a lot busier, then it could have been a significantly worse incident Fire service spokesman |
| The town centre building, thought to contain living accommodation and an empty shop, was destroyed. | The town centre building, thought to contain living accommodation and an empty shop, was destroyed. |
| A fire service spokesman confirmed there had been "quite a significant gas leak" but added that it was possible for this to have been caused by the explosion. | A fire service spokesman confirmed there had been "quite a significant gas leak" but added that it was possible for this to have been caused by the explosion. |
| He said: "We're on a Sunday, a quiet Sunday, after Christmas, after New Year's (Eve) is over. | He said: "We're on a Sunday, a quiet Sunday, after Christmas, after New Year's (Eve) is over. |
| "Luckily, I would say, it has been a very quiet period. If this had been prior to Christmas, when the shops and the streets and the pubs were a lot busier, then it could have been a significantly worse incident." | "Luckily, I would say, it has been a very quiet period. If this had been prior to Christmas, when the shops and the streets and the pubs were a lot busier, then it could have been a significantly worse incident." |
| Pamela Salter, 62, whose flat overlooks the area, described how her building shook with the force of the explosion. | Pamela Salter, 62, whose flat overlooks the area, described how her building shook with the force of the explosion. |
| She said: "I think everyone heard it. It was a huge noise and a huge vibration. | She said: "I think everyone heard it. It was a huge noise and a huge vibration. |
| "The building shook, all the window panes shook. | "The building shook, all the window panes shook. |
| "I think we all thought it was a bomb. We looked out of the window and saw a plume of rubble rising in the air. | "I think we all thought it was a bomb. We looked out of the window and saw a plume of rubble rising in the air. |
| "It was incredible. And that was before the smoke and fire." | "It was incredible. And that was before the smoke and fire." |
| The man who suffered spinal injuries had been trapped by rubble on the ground floor and, after being freed, was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where he is understood to have undergone surgery. | The man who suffered spinal injuries had been trapped by rubble on the ground floor and, after being freed, was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where he is understood to have undergone surgery. |
| The other seriously injured person was a woman with burns to her head, neck and chest who was found lying in the street outside the building. She was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. | The other seriously injured person was a woman with burns to her head, neck and chest who was found lying in the street outside the building. She was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. |
| Several people who lived close to the building could not get to their homes on Sunday so a room was set up for their use at the nearby Kings Head pub. | Several people who lived close to the building could not get to their homes on Sunday so a room was set up for their use at the nearby Kings Head pub. |