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Inquiry after girl's blast death Inquiry after girl's blast death
(about 2 hours later)
Investigators are trying to establish the cause of a gas explosion at a house in Devon that left a nine-year-old girl dead and four other people injured.Investigators are trying to establish the cause of a gas explosion at a house in Devon that left a nine-year-old girl dead and four other people injured.
Stephanie Hammacott was fatally injured when a wall blew out as she walked past the house in Southway in Plymouth.Stephanie Hammacott was fatally injured when a wall blew out as she walked past the house in Southway in Plymouth.
Police officers have now confirmed asbestos is present at the scene which is making the operation more hazardous. Well-wishers have placed tributes to Stephanie at the scene and hundreds of messages of sympathy have been left on a local newspaper's website.
Stephanie died in hospital after the explosion, which destroyed the house at about 0800 GMT on Tuesday. Police said work at the site had been hampered by the presence of asbestos.
Stephanie was on her way to breakfast club at Southway Primary School with her mother at about 0800 GMT on Tuesday when the wall blew out, trapping her under the rubble. She died in hospital.
'Still smouldering''Still smouldering'
"Clearly one of problems we've got is the unstable nature of the building," said group commander Malcolm Carmichael from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue. Her 38-year-old mother received minor injuries.
Group Commander Malcolm Carmichael, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, said: "Clearly one of problems we've got is the unstable nature of the building.
"We are going to have to work our way very carefully through that without disturbing too much of the evidence which would hamper the investigation."We are going to have to work our way very carefully through that without disturbing too much of the evidence which would hamper the investigation.
Rubble from the house was blown up to 15m Firefighters at scene
"We've still got a smouldering building and a thorough investigation to complete.""We've still got a smouldering building and a thorough investigation to complete."
He said the house had been "almost completely destroyed" by the blast.He said the house had been "almost completely destroyed" by the blast.
Two occupants of the Bulteel Gardens house suffered smoke inhalation and one of them, an elderly woman, is believed to still be in the city's Derriford Hospital.Two occupants of the Bulteel Gardens house suffered smoke inhalation and one of them, an elderly woman, is believed to still be in the city's Derriford Hospital.
Rubble from the house was blown up to 15m Firefighters at scene
A passer-by was also slightly injured in the explosion.A passer-by was also slightly injured in the explosion.
Stephanie was on her way to breakfast club at Southway Primary School with her mother when the wall blew out, trapping her under the rubble.
Her 38-year-old mother received minor injuries.
Eyewitnesses spoke of flames leaping into the air and smoke billowing across the area, where rubble from the blast was strewn up to 50ft (15m) away.Eyewitnesses spoke of flames leaping into the air and smoke billowing across the area, where rubble from the blast was strewn up to 50ft (15m) away.
People living in 12 houses in the surrounding area were not allowed to go back to their homes overnight.People living in 12 houses in the surrounding area were not allowed to go back to their homes overnight.
The houses have been boarded up and the residents were offered alternative accommodation.The houses have been boarded up and the residents were offered alternative accommodation.
The house was on fire for some time after the explosion Well-wishers have begun to leave tributes at the scene
They will only be allowed home once the fire service and gas company have given the all-clear.
Police said gas detection equipment was at the scene and the area was under constant monitoring.
Officers said they had been told people could smell gas in the area prior to the explosion.Officers said they had been told people could smell gas in the area prior to the explosion.
Counsellors from the council's Education Psychology Service were at Stephanie's school all day on Tuesday offering their support, along with parent support advisers.Counsellors from the council's Education Psychology Service were at Stephanie's school all day on Tuesday offering their support, along with parent support advisers.
The school's headteacher Mark Lees said Stephanie, who had been at the school since she aged three, was a "delightful" girl. The school's head teacher Mark Lees said Stephanie, who had been at the school since she was aged three, was a "delightful" girl.
"We are all in shock. She was an absolutely delightful girl, she cared for people and worked hard and will be greatly missed.""We are all in shock. She was an absolutely delightful girl, she cared for people and worked hard and will be greatly missed."
Plymouth City Council said the house was one of its properties and confirmed the property had undergone a problem-free maintenance check in June.Plymouth City Council said the house was one of its properties and confirmed the property had undergone a problem-free maintenance check in June.
Wales and West Utilities said an investigation into the explosion's cause was under way with emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive. Wales and West Utilities said it was working alongside emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive as part of the investigation.