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| Oldham explosion: Child dies as house 'completely flattened' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A child has died in an explosion which "completely flattened" a house in the Shaw area of Oldham. | |
| Another person is believed to be trapped after five terraced houses were damaged in the suspected gas blast, Greater Manchester Police said. | |
| Firefighters are searching the damaged properties in Buckley Street. One man was taken to hospital with 80% burns. | |
| National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40. It said 100 homes had been evacuated. | |
| A fire service helicopter with listening equipment is at the scene trying to detect if people are trapped in the rubble. | A fire service helicopter with listening equipment is at the scene trying to detect if people are trapped in the rubble. |
| North West Ambulance Service said the burns victim had been taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. | North West Ambulance Service said the burns victim had been taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. |
| 'Utter carnage' | 'Utter carnage' |
| More than 30 firefighters are at the scene. | More than 30 firefighters are at the scene. |
| Specialist search and rescue teams, including a dog, are involved in the operation and extra teams have been drafted in from neighbouring Lancashire Fire Service. | |
| Alex Perkins, who lives across the road, said: "It's like a war zone - tiles that have blown off literally across the streets, there's just debris everywhere. It's mad. | Alex Perkins, who lives across the road, said: "It's like a war zone - tiles that have blown off literally across the streets, there's just debris everywhere. It's mad. |
| "It's just empty, there's nothing there, just bricks on the floor, just rubble." | "It's just empty, there's nothing there, just bricks on the floor, just rubble." |
| Georgian Ulla, who also lives on the street, said her house "shook like it was an earthquake". | Georgian Ulla, who also lives on the street, said her house "shook like it was an earthquake". |
| 'Absolutely frightening' | |
| "All the lights shook - I thought someone was breaking in to begin with," she said. | "All the lights shook - I thought someone was breaking in to begin with," she said. |
| "First thing that I saw was all the toys on the floor. Apparently there are kids that live in the house." | "First thing that I saw was all the toys on the floor. Apparently there are kids that live in the house." |
| Shaw ward councillor Mark Alcock, who lives a quarter of a mile away, described the scene as "utter carnage". | Shaw ward councillor Mark Alcock, who lives a quarter of a mile away, described the scene as "utter carnage". |
| "An end-terrace house has been completely flattened and properties up to 800m away have had their windows blown in," he said. | "An end-terrace house has been completely flattened and properties up to 800m away have had their windows blown in," he said. |
| "It's a real mess… we understand there are people trapped in other properties," he added. | "It's a real mess… we understand there are people trapped in other properties," he added. |
| Peter Travis, who works nearby, said: "I heard the loudest bang you could ever hear, then I could see bits of slate going through the air like ticker tape. | Peter Travis, who works nearby, said: "I heard the loudest bang you could ever hear, then I could see bits of slate going through the air like ticker tape. |
| "Bits of slate were landing near us about 250 metres away. | "Bits of slate were landing near us about 250 metres away. |
| "I could then hear alarms going off and then a silence, it was absolutely frightening." | "I could then hear alarms going off and then a silence, it was absolutely frightening." |
| Craig Needham who runs a nearby garage, said staff ran outside when they heard the explosion. | Craig Needham who runs a nearby garage, said staff ran outside when they heard the explosion. |
| "We could just see a black plume, we thought a bomb had dropped," he said. | "We could just see a black plume, we thought a bomb had dropped," he said. |
| Oldham Council said a rest centre had been set up at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for people who had been evacuated from their homes. | Oldham Council said a rest centre had been set up at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for people who had been evacuated from their homes. |
| Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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