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Clacton explosion: Essex Police investigate blast cause Clacton explosion: House blast victim feared for life
(about 4 hours later)
Crime scene investigators are searching for the cause of an explosion that flattened two homes and injured 10 people. A woman who lived next door to a house in Essex that was destroyed in a gas blast said she feared she was "going to die" in the aftermath.
The blast in Cloes Lane in Clacton, on Wednesday morning, was described by Essex Fire Service as "extraordinary". Kim Whitby, 56, was in bed when the explosion happened on Wednesday morning in Cloes Lane, Clacton.
A man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s were badly burnt and are in a "stable" condition at Broomfield Hospital. She told the BBC her ceiling fell on top of her and she "screamed" at her husband to stop moving to avoid the bed falling through the floor.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion is being led by Essex Police, who have been searching for evidence. The occupants of the exploded house are in a "stable" condition in hospital.
The two semi-detached houses were demolished overnight and sealed off from the public with tall metal fencing. A third house was badly damaged but has not been demolished. A man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s were both badly burnt, ambulance crews said.
Mrs Whitby, who declined to be photographed by the BBC, suffered cuts and bruises, but her husband Ray, 47, remains in hospital with leg and face injuries and was due to undergo a brain scan, she said.
Her father-in-law Jack, 69, was also in the semi-detached house at the time of the blast. He was unhurt.
'Going to be killed'
In total, 10 people were hurt in the explosion, but everyone else has since been discharged from hospital.
Mrs Whitby's semi-detached house has been demolished overnight, but all other residents have been allowed back into their homes.
"I was in bed and I thought I'd have five more minutes but then, all of a sudden, I just saw the floor above was coming on top of me," she said.
"When I looked I could see the houses to the left of me and all the window and the wall was gone.
"There were just flames coming out of the house next door and their dog was barking because he could see me.
"My husband came into the bedroom and I screamed at him, because I thought if he treads on something the bed is going to go and I'm going to be killed.
"I just could not stop screaming. I thought I've got to get out, because if I don't I'm going to die because I think it's going to explode."
She said a passer-by intervened and went into the house to get her out into the street.
"I sat on the side of the road. Blood was coming from my head and my face.
"I couldn't sleep last night because every time I closed my eyes I could see everything again. I could see myself screaming, the flames and the poor people next door - I just couldn't sleep."
She described her neighbours as "nice people" and said she felt "so sorry" for them.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion is being led by Essex Police, who have been searching for evidence amid the rubble of the two semi-detached homes.
A third badly damaged house has not been demolished.
The police cordon has been lifted allowing traffic to once again use Cloes Lane.The police cordon has been lifted allowing traffic to once again use Cloes Lane.
All but those living in the immediate area surrounding the blast site have been allowed to return home. Essex Fire Service, the Health and Safety Executive and the National Grid are also aiding the investigation.
The remaining eight injured were taken to Colchester Hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs.
Seven of them have since been discharged.
Essex Fire Service, Essex Police, the Health and Safety Executive 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 the gas meters of the three badly-damaged houses.Stephanie van Rosse, from the National Grid, said it did not appear as though there were any faults in the pipes leading up to the gas meters of the three badly-damaged houses.
She said further tests would be carried out once demolition work had been completed.
No recent mains replacement work in the area had been carried out, she said.
Paul Reed wrote on a Facebook page set up to support those affected: "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."
Clacton resident Kerry Jones-Montague, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can."