A young child has died and four people have been injured after a suspected gas explosion in Lancashire.
A major incident was declared after the incident rocked terraced houses in Heysham early on Sunday morning, with residents evacuated. The explosion destroyed two homes and wrecked another, leaving debris littered around the area.
Two of the injured are seriously hurt.
A statement from Lancashire Police said on Sunday morning: ‘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.’
Earlier, Lancashire Fire tweeted that 10 units were called to a row of properties on Mallowdale Avenue at around 2.30am and that firefighters were searching a collapsed property.
The organisation said: ‘A major incident has been declared after we (were) called to terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue. It has been reported that there has been an explosion at a property and firefighters are searching the collapsed property.’
Lancashire’s deputy police constable tweeted on Sunday that a young child had died and four people were injured in the incident.
Several residents tweeted that up to three houses had collapsed, and that emergency services sirens had been heard near the scene for a prolonged time.
Lancashire Police said a safety cordon had been put in place and nearby residents had been evacuated in the town, which lies some 25 miles north-east of Blackpool.
The force said: ‘We are asking people to please avoid the entire area while we deal with this ongoing incident.’
The North West Ambulance Service tweeted that it had also sent units to the scene, with a priority to ‘ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible’.
The Service wrote: ‘Following reports of an explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, #Heysham, we have resources at the scene and we are working with @LancashireFRS and @LancsPolice’.
Local MP David Morris, who represents Morecambe and Lunesdale, tweeted: ‘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 also sent units to the scene, with a priority to “ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible”.
Electricity North West tweeted that it had paused electricity supplies to the area for safety reasons while the blast was being investigated.
This is a breaking story – more to follow.
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