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| Clacton gas explosion: Ten injured in street blast and fire | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ten people were hurt in a gas explosion and fire in a residential street in Essex. | Ten people were hurt in a gas explosion and fire in a residential street in Essex. |
| The blast happened at about 08:30 GMT in Cloes Lane, Clacton. | The blast happened at about 08:30 GMT in Cloes Lane, Clacton. |
| A man in his 70s was airlifted to hospital in a life-threatening condition and a woman in her 50s was severely burned, the East of England Ambulance Service said. | A man in his 70s was airlifted to hospital in a life-threatening condition and a woman in her 50s was severely burned, the East of England Ambulance Service said. |
| Eight more people were taken to hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. | Eight more people were taken to hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. |
| Two houses were "flattened" and a third is seriously damaged. Eyewitnesses described the street "shaking" at the blast and a strong smell of gas. | |
| Essex Police said it had evacuated 19 properties; 10 in Cloes Lane and nine in the road behind it. The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has also been shut as a precaution. | Essex Police said it had evacuated 19 properties; 10 in Cloes Lane and nine in the road behind it. The nearby St Clare's Catholic Primary School has also been shut as a precaution. |
| 'Utter devastation' | |
| It added that electricity supplies were being turned off in the area until it became safe. | It added that electricity supplies were being turned off in the area until it became safe. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Crews added that an investigation into the fire had now begun and although not confirmed yet, it was believed that gas was involved. | |
| BBC Essex's Felicity Simper, said: "The smell of smoke hit me as I arrived on a neighbouring road. | |
| "It is utter devastation here. I am looking at a pair of semi-detached houses. One has exploded, taking the other house with it. | |
| "The road is littered with debris, what looks like bricks. | |
| "The scale of the incident is illustrated by mysterious bits of litter blowing all over the place. A closer look confirms it is loft insulation." | |
| Clacton's Conservative MP, Douglas Carswell, tweeted: "My thoughts are with those in Cloes Lane #clacton affected by explosion." | Clacton's Conservative MP, Douglas Carswell, tweeted: "My thoughts are with those in Cloes Lane #clacton affected by explosion." |
| A spokesman for the National Grid said the incident involved a gas-fuelled fire coming from a service pipe. | 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. | Five ambulances and two air ambulances were sent to the scene. |
| 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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