Bury explosion - live: School evacuated after blast rips through nearby house as woman seriously injured
Neighbours in Fishpool, Greater Manchester, forced to flee homes as fire crews tackle flames
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A house was destroyed in an explosion that sparked a fire, leaving a woman in her 70s seriously injured and needing hospital treatment.
A nearby primary school in Greater Manchester was evacuated after the suspected gas explosion.
Children and staff at St Luke’s Church of England Primary School in Fishpool in Bury left the school after the blast, which was just yards away, according to Bury Council’s deputy leader, Tamoor Tariq.
Terraced homes on either side of the wrecked house were also damaged, and neighbours were forced to flee, taking shelter with families or friends elsewhere.
“I understand everyone has been taken into a place of safety and emergency services are doing all possible to deal with this awful situation,” Mr Tariq wrote on social media.
He added: “The house directly affected is in an extremely bad state following the explosion [and] the house was destroyed by the strong flames from the fire.”
Gas network investigates
Local people described smelling gas after the blast.
Gas network Cadent has confirmed staff were sent to the scene, but it has not been confirmed whether the explosion was caused by gas.
Phil Hendrick, of Cadent, told the Bury News: “My teams are in attendance at the incident in Bury.
“As the gas emergency service for the area, we are assisting the multi-agency response, as is routine in incidents like this.
“It is too early to say what caused this and we would ask people to avoid speculating.
“The priority right now is to keep everyone safe, which is why I would ask that people follow guidance offered by police and the fire and rescue service. We will make sure everything associated with gas on site is safe.
“If you smell gas, here or anywhere, always call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999 immediately, day or night.”
Flames tear through house
Footage showed flames ripping through the house.
Fire seen coming from house roof
The explosion at a house in Nelson Street started a fire.
Rhys Owen, who lives on nearby Brierley Street, told the Bury Times: “I heard a helicopter flying over about 11am and I could see a house on fire rising from the roof.
“I went round and there was lots of police and fire vehicles, an ambulance and a cordon in place.”
He added that someone he knew nearer to the incident heard a bang.
Council officials at the scene
Bury council officials went to the scene, and police went door-to-door to advise people to leave their homes if possible.
Emergency crews were there for at least two hours after the explosion, around 11am.
Smoke fills air
Clouds of smoke filling the air around nearby streets, and householders were advised to keep windows closed.
The explostion was described by some as a gas explosion, but emergency services have not confirmed that, and the cause is still unknown.
School closes after fire hits power supply
St Luke’s primary school decided to get pupils out because conditions were deteriorating where the fire affected electricity supplies to the school, said councillor Tamoor Tariq.
Parents had been told, he said.
Police promise to alert neighbours
Greater Manchester Police said other neighbours would be told if they needed to do anything else.
A spokesperson told The Independent: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at a property on Nelson Street in the Fishpool area of Bury.
“At this stage, a woman in her 70s has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. A 200m cordon is in place around the property and neighbouring homes.
“Local residents and the community will be informed if they need to take any further action.”
Neighbouring homes damaged
Both properties next to the house where the explosion happened were damaged, said Bury Council’s deputy leader, Tamoor Tariq.
A cordon is in place around the affected property and neighbouring homes.
Nearby neighbours take shelter
People affected took shelter with neighbours, family or friends, according to Bury Council’s deputy leader Tamoor Tariq.
No one died in the blast but the house was in an extremely bad state, he said.
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