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Essex explosion: Homes evacuated and casualties reported following blast in residential area Essex explosion: At least 10 people injured after two homes 'flattened' by blast in residential area
(about 2 hours later)
Homes are being evacuated and there are reports of casualties following an explosion in a residential street in Essex. At least 10 people have been injured and around 20 homes evacuated following an explosion in a residential street in Essex.
Emergency services were called to Cloes Lane, Clacton just before 8.30am this morning. Emergency services were called to Cloes Lane, Clacton just before 8.30am this morning, and arrived to find two houses "flattened" and a third badly damaged by flying debris.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "Several houses have been damaged. There have been reports of casualties. An ambulance service spokesperson said two people had suffered serious injuries. A man in his 70s was airlifted to Broomfield Hospital in a "life-threatening" condition, and a woman in her 50s sustained burns described as "severe". 
"The immediate area is currently being evacuated. People are advised to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the scene." Essex Police said some 19 properties were evacuated in the wake of the blast, while the fire service wrote on Twitter that "everyone has now been accounted for".
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said a house at the centre of the blast was on fire, adding that there were multiple casualties. Resident Stuart Coe told Sky News: "We were sitting there having breakfast and the next thing we heard this almighty bang and literally everything shook in the house - the conservatory shook, it felt like the roof was shaking.
The incident commander said two semi-detached houses have been affected by the blast, causing a gas-fuelled fire, which is being allowed to burn under control. "Obviously, the kids were upset and crying, we didn't know what was going on. Within minutes of the explosion, we started hearing sirens coming down the road.
A spokesman said: "Numerous other properties have been affected by flying debris and are being evacuated. "It's like a bomb going off... It was a pretty nasty event," he said.
"Firefighters are searching the rubble and dealing with multiple casualties with various injuries. There are still people unaccounted for." Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said a gas-fuelled fire in a house at the centre of the blast was being allowed to burn out under controlled conditions.
The fire service later said on Twitter that the explosion had "flattened two houses and badly damaged a third", but added that everyone has now been accounted for. They said five people had been taken to hospital, one with life threatening injuries. The incident commander said two semi-detached houses have been affected by the blast, while numerous other properties were impacted by flying debris.
The fire service later said on Twitter: "The evacuation of properties is now complete and the Gas Board are in attendance assessing the scene." It added that search dogs would continue to be used "to ensure no casualties remain buried".
Essex Fire Service tweeted this image, showing the extent of the damage from ground level