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Multiple casualties in Clacton gas blast Ten injured in Clacton street gas blast and fire
(35 minutes later)
Multiple casualties have been reported by emergency crews following a gas explosion and a fire at a house. Five people have been taken to hospital and a further five hurt in a gas explosion in a residential street in Essex.
The incident happened at about 08:30 GMT in Cloes Lane, Clacton, Essex. Essex Fire Service said one of those rescued from blast and fire in Cloes Lane, Clacton, had life-threatening injuries.
One eyewitness said the entire front of one house had collapsed and others were damaged. Two houses were "flattened" and a third is seriously damaged, the fire service says.
A fire service spokesman said: "The house is on fire and there are multiple casualties reported." Firefighters were searching rubble and dealing with "various injuries". Eyewitness described the street shaking and a strong smell of gas.
There are still people unaccounted for. Emergency services confirmed that the incident involved a gas explosion. Gwen Mitchell, a Tendring District Council member who lives opposite the blast site, said: "It is very frightening.
'Very frightening' "It looks like one house has gone; the whole front seems to be gone. You can smell the smoke in the air."
The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has been shut. Linda White, who lives 150 yards away from the explosion site, said: "We saw loft insulation blowing down the road. You could smell the gas; everybody was hanging out the windows saying, 'what was that?'"
Gwen Mitchell, a Tendring District Council member who lives opposite the blast site, said: "It is very frightening. It looks like one house has gone; the whole front seems to be gone. You can smell the smoke in the air." Assistant Divisional Officer Lee Palfreyman, of Essex Fire and Rescue, said: "The blast flattened two houses and badly damaged a third.
Some people living in the area tweeted that the explosion caused their homes to "shake". "Debris flew in all directions damaging windows and roofs. Crews are continuing their work at the scene.
Two semi-detached houses have been affected. Fire crews say they are letting the fire burn under control. "The evacuation of properties is now complete and the gas board are in attendance assessing the scene."
Numerous other properties have been affected by flying debris.
Essex Police said the immediate area was being evacuated, and an urban search and rescue unit is at the scene.Essex Police said the immediate area was being evacuated, and an urban search and rescue unit is at the scene.
The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has been shut as a precaution.