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Oldham explosion: Child dies as house 'completely flattened' | 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. | A child has died in an explosion which "completely flattened" a house in the Shaw area of Oldham. |
Five terraced houses were damaged in the suspected gas blast in Buckley Street, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesman said. | |
One man was taken to hospital with 80% burns. Another person who was missing has been accounted for, said firefighters. | |
National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40 BST. | |
One hundred homes have been evacuated and Oldham Council has set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for residents removed from their homes. | One hundred homes have been evacuated and Oldham Council has set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for residents removed from their homes. |
Supt Neil Evans, of GMP, said: "What I am now able to confirm is that there has been at least one fatality. | Supt Neil Evans, of GMP, said: "What I am now able to confirm is that there has been at least one fatality. |
"That is believed to be a young child from one of the addresses and the next of kin has been informed of that fact." | "That is believed to be a young child from one of the addresses and the next of kin has been informed of that fact." |
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. |
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. | 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". |
"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." |
Ashfaq Hussein, whose father is the landlord of the house where the explosion took place, said: "We are absolutely shocked." | |
He said the man who suffered the serious burns and his partner were due to get married soon. | |
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. |
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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