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Ten injured in Clacton street gas blast and fire Ten injured in Clacton street gas blast and fire
(35 minutes later)
Five people have been taken to hospital and a further five hurt in a gas explosion in a residential street in Essex. Ten people were hurt in a gas explosion and fire in a residential street in Essex.
Essex Fire Service said one of those rescued from blast and fire in Cloes Lane, Clacton, had life-threatening injuries. The incident happened at about 08:30 GMT in Cloes Lane, Clacton.
Two houses were "flattened" and a third is seriously damaged, the fire service says. Five people were taken to hospital, including one with life-threatening injuries, Essex Fire Service said.
Eyewitness described the street shaking and a strong smell of gas. Two houses were "flattened" and a third is seriously damaged. Eyewitness described the street "shaking" at the blast and a strong smell of gas.
Gwen Mitchell, a Tendring District Council member who lives opposite the blast site, said: "It is very frightening. Five people were treated by paramedics at the scene.
"It looks like one house has gone; the whole front seems to be gone. You can smell the smoke in the air." Gwen Mitchell, a Tendring District Council member who lives opposite the blast site, said: "It looks like one house has gone; the whole front seems to be gone. You can smell the smoke in the air."
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?'"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?'"
Assistant Divisional Officer Lee Palfreyman, of Essex Fire and Rescue, said: "The blast flattened two houses and badly damaged a third.Assistant Divisional Officer Lee Palfreyman, of Essex Fire and Rescue, said: "The blast flattened two houses and badly damaged a third.
"Debris flew in all directions damaging windows and roofs. Crews are continuing their work at the scene."Debris flew in all directions damaging windows and roofs. Crews are continuing their work at the scene.
"The evacuation of properties is now complete and the gas board are in attendance assessing the scene.""The evacuation of properties is now complete and the gas board are in attendance assessing the scene."
Essex Police said the immediate area was being evacuated, and an urban search and rescue unit is at the scene. A spokesman for the National Grid said the incident involved a gas-fuelled fire coming from a service pipe.
Five ambulances and two air ambulances were sent to the scene.
The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has been shut as a precaution.The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has been shut as a precaution.