In pictures: Essex explosion destroys Clacton homes
- Published
A gas explosion and fire has "flattened" two houses in Cloes Lane, Clacton, injuring 10 people. A man in his 70s was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries; 19 properties were evacuated.
Two semi-detached houses were affected by the blast, causing a gas-fuelled fire which was allowed to burn under control, said Essex Fire and Rescue. A number of other properties were also hit by flying debris, damaging windows and roofs.
Dave Brown, 70, was walking past the scene on his way to buy a newspaper when the explosion happened. He said: "The explosion pushed me forwards and knocked me off my feet. A bloke in a car got out and said 'Are you all right?' He said a house had exploded."
Mr Brown added: "I saw a bloke climbing out with no clothes on. There was a man downstairs trying to climb up on the debris and a woman of about 70 or 80 trapped under the building. "I tried to go and help them but my head was spinning and my legs turned to jelly."
Witnesses described the street "shaking" at the blast and a strong smell of gas. Wayne Reekie, who pulled people from the wreckage, told BBC Essex: "It's chaos, one house is down, there's nothing left of it, just rubble."
He added: "I just wanted to help people, just get people out. There was a lady who was severely burned, we got her to an ambulance and kept her warm." Felicity Simper from BBC Essex arrived on the scene to find "utter devastation".
The Essex Fire Service's Urban Search and Rescue Team assisted the operation using search dogs to check the rubble to ensure everyone had been accounted for and no casualties remained buried. Debris from the blast was thrown about 100m (328ft) into Cloes Lane.
Darcy, an eight-year-old border collie, worked with her handler John Ball from Essex Fire Service on the rescue. Lynda Brown, a neighbour, said: "It sounded like a bomb going off and an earthquake underneath you. Windows shook, doors opened and debris came in."
Electricity supplies were turned off while emergency service made the area safe. One family pet had a lucky escape from the blast - rescuers found a guinea pig in the rubble left by the explosion.
- Published5 February 2014
- Published5 February 2014