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| Clacton gas explosion: Ten injured and houses flattened | Clacton gas explosion: Ten injured and houses flattened |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ten people were injured in a gas explosion that "flattened" two houses on a street in Clacton, Essex. | |
| Eyewitnesses described the street, Cloes Lane, "shaking" during the explosion, while Essex assistant chief fire officer Paul Hill said the power of the blast was "extraordinary". | |
| A man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s were badly burnt in the fire that followed. Both are now in a "stable" condition, Broomfield Hospital said. | |
| A third house was also badly damaged. | A third house was also badly damaged. |
| 'Utter devastation' | 'Utter devastation' |
| Mr Hill said the explosion, which happened at about 08:30 GMT, had even damaged other homes in neighbouring streets and it was "extremely fortunate" that no-one had been killed. | |
| The two most seriously injured people were taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, which has a specialist burns unit. | |
| Eight others were taken to Colchester Hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. Seven of them have since been discharged. | |
| Essex Police said 19 properties had been evacuated; 10 in Cloes Lane and nine in the road behind it. | Essex Police said 19 properties had been evacuated; 10 in Cloes Lane and nine in the road behind it. |
| 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 out. There was a lady who was severely burned; we got her to an ambulance and kept her warm." | |
| 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' | 'Turned to jelly' |
| Dave Brown, 70, was on his way to buy a newspaper when the explosion happened. | Dave Brown, 70, was 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. | "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. | "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 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." | "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." | |
| Essex Fire Service, Essex Police, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the National Grid are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the blast. | |
| Stephanie van Rosse, from the National Grid, said it did not appear as though there were any faults in the pipes leading up to gas meters of the three badly-damaged houses. | |
| She said further tests would be carried out once demolition work has been completed. Work to tear down the main house has begun. | |
| She added there had been no recent mains replacement work in the area. | |
| 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. |
| Essex Police said the area surrounding the homes would remain cordoned off overnight. | |
| 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 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." |
| Clacton resident Kerry Jones-Montague, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can." | |
| 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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