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A young child has died after a suspected gas explosion in Heysham ‘destroys three homes’

A major incident has been declared after a suspected gas explosion which reportedly destroyed up to three terraced houses in Heysham, Lancashire.
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Lancashire Police said they had been called at 2.40am to the scene of the explosion after reports “a number” of houses on Mallowdale Avenue had collapsed.

Suspected gas explosion in Lancashire ‘destroys three homes’

Key Events

  • A major incident has been declared after a suspected gas explosion which reportedly destroyed up to three terraced houses in Heysham, Lancashire.
  • Lancashire Police said they had been called at 2.40am to the scene of the explosion after reports “a number” of houses on Mallowdale Avenue had collapsed.
  • In a statement, the force said: “We are currently at the scene of a suspected gas explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham.
  • “We were called at 2.40am… to reports that a number of houses on the road had collapsed.

Latest pictures from the scene in Heysham

A scene of devastation in Heysham after a suspected gas explosion which caused two houses to collapse.A scene of devastation in Heysham after a suspected gas explosion which caused two houses to collapse.
A scene of devastation in Heysham after a suspected gas explosion which caused two houses to collapse.

Police tape off Mallodale Avenue in Heysham after a gas explosionPolice tape off Mallodale Avenue in Heysham after a gas explosion
Police tape off Mallodale Avenue in Heysham after a gas explosion

Several residents of the area tweeted that up to three houses had collapsed, and emergency services sirens had been heard near the scene for a prolonged time.

Dan Knowles, who lives four streets away from the explosion, said he thought there had been an earthquake.

“My wife and I thought there was an earthquake which woke us, the whole house shook,” he told the PA news agency.

“We immediately checked on our kids and got back in bed. We then heard sirens and my wife checked Facebook, when we found out that there’d been a gas explosion. We stayed indoors and switched everything off at the source and then sat up all night worrying.”

Local MP David Morris, who represents Morecambe and Lunesdale, wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families on Mallowdale Avenue following the incident this morning. Thank you to all of the emergency services who are currently on the scene.”

The North West Ambulance Service tweeted that it had sent units to the scene, with a priority to “ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible”.

Electricity North West wrote on social media that it had paused electricity supplies to the area for safety reasons while the blast was being investigated.

Earlier, the force said officers were at the scene along with colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue and North West Ambulance Service.

“A safety cordon has been put in place and nearby residents have been evacuated,” they said.

Lancashire Fire said on Twitter that 10 units were called to the terraced row and firefighters were searching a collapsed property.

A statement from Lancashire Police said: “We remain at scene of a suspected gas explosion on Mallowdale Ave, Heysham, which has caused two houses to collapse and badly damaged another.

“Sadly, we can now confirm a young child has died and four other people have been injured, two seriously.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected.”

The MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, David Morris has said this on Twitter

The MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, David Morris has said his prayers are with all the families affected by the explosion.He took to Twitter to say: “My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families on Mallowdale Avenue following the incident this morning. Thank you to all of the emergency services who are currently on the scene. “

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