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| Clacton gas explosion: Ten injured in street blast and fire | Clacton gas explosion: Ten injured in street blast and fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ten people have been hurt in a gas explosion and fire at a residential street in Essex. | Ten people have been hurt in a gas explosion and fire at 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 with life-threatening injuries 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 with life-threatening injuries 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. Four were discharged. | Eight more people were taken to hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. Four were discharged. |
| The two most seriously injured were taken to Broomfield Hospital, which has a specialist burns unit. The other injured people were taken to Colchester Hospital. | The two most seriously injured were taken to Broomfield Hospital, which has a specialist burns unit. The other injured people were taken to Colchester Hospital. |
| Two houses were "flattened" and a third has been seriously damaged. Eyewitness described the street "shaking" at the blast and a strong smell of gas. | Two houses were "flattened" and a third has been seriously damaged. Eyewitness described the street "shaking" at the blast and a strong smell of gas. |
| Assistant chief fire officer Paul Hill said it appeared to be a gas explosion at a house, adding the power was "extraordinary" and had damaged other homes in neighbouring streets. | Assistant chief fire officer Paul Hill said it appeared to be a gas explosion at a house, adding the power was "extraordinary" and had damaged other homes in neighbouring streets. |
| 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' | '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. |
| Wayne Reekie, who pulled people from the wreckage, said: "It's chaos, one house is down, there's nothing left of it, just rubble. | Wayne Reekie, who pulled people from the wreckage, said: "It's chaos, one house is down, there's nothing left of it, just rubble. |
| "There were two people trapped, and a couple of dogs, which I got out. | "There were two people trapped, and a couple of dogs, which I got out. |
| "I just wanted to help people, just get people out. There was a lady who was severely burned, we got her to an ambulance and kept her warm." | "I just wanted to help people, just get people out. There was a lady who was severely burned, we got her to an ambulance and kept her warm." |
| 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." |
| Lynda Brown, who lives 150 yards away from the explosion, said: "We saw loft insulation blowing down the road. You could smell the gas; everybody was hanging out the windows saying, 'what was that?'" | Lynda Brown, who lives 150 yards away from the explosion, said: "We saw loft insulation blowing down the road. You could smell the gas; everybody was hanging out the windows saying, 'what was that?'" |
| 'Turned to jelly' | |
| Dave Brown, 70, was walking past the scene on his way to buy a newspaper when the explosion happened. | |
| "I heard a bang and at first I thought it was two cars hitting each other," he said. | |
| "The explosion pushed me forwards and knocked me off my feet. A bloke in a car got out and said 'Are you all right?' He said a house had exploded. | |
| "I saw a bloke climbing out with no clothes on. There was a man downstairs trying to climb up on the debris and a woman of about 70 or 80 trapped under the building. | |
| "I tried to go and help them but my head was spinning and my legs turned to jelly. I stood there and felt helpless. By this time other people had come to help them." | |
| 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." |
| A reception centre has been set up at Clacton Town Hall for residents evacuated from their homes. | A reception centre has been set up at Clacton Town Hall for residents evacuated from their homes. |
| 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." |
| 'Belongings destroyed' | 'Belongings destroyed' |
| A Facebook group has already been set up to support and offer donations to the victims of the blast. | A Facebook group has already been set up to support and offer donations to the victims of the blast. |
| Paul Reed wrote on the page: "My mum and other family was in the house you are seeing on the news, all of them are in hospital being treated, but don't have any news at the min. | Paul Reed wrote on the page: "My mum and other family was in the house you are seeing on the news, all of them are in hospital being treated, but don't have any news at the min. |
| "All of the belongings have been destroyed." | "All of the belongings have been destroyed." |
| Kerry Jones-Montague, from Clacton, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can." | Kerry Jones-Montague, from Clacton, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can." |
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