A 4-year-old child is feared to be trapped after a gas explosion and fire in south London today.
Neighbors reported it sounded ‘like a bomb had gone off’ on Galpin’s Road in Thornton Heath, near Croydon, soon after 7am today.
Three individuals have life-threatening injuries, and fire workers are hunting for a fourth.
Merton Council said it was a gas explosion.
Southern Gas Networks was working on the road and has been approached for comment.
Kutoya Kukanda, 50, and Delroy Simms, 62, who rescued three children from the rubble at 7am, said they feared a girl was still trapped inside.
Mr Simms, in his pyjamas near the cordon, claimed the explosion was like an earthquake and he knew what it was because ‘that gas smelled all week, extremely strong’
Mr. Kukanda handed him children while falling bricks continued.
Videos and photos show the home reduced to rubble, boards of wood scattered, and stunned neighbours in their pyjamas.
Tiles and bricks from the wrecked home injure surrounding buildings and cars.
A 50-metre barrier is in place around 40 evacuated residences.
Witnesses stated additional victims, including a toddler, were stretchered away from the site.
Three people are in hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, including a young girl being treated for burns outside with a blanket.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said four individuals were rescued; avoid the area.
On a £430,000-a-year street, the explosion destroyed residences on each side of the detonation and across the street.
Neighbors stated they smelled gas two weeks ago and have been dizzy and ill for two days.
One individual claimed they could still smell gas after the incident, which broke windows and seriously damaged surrounding residences.
Residents claimed The Sun gasworks had been going on for ‘four weeks’ There is no hint the works are linked to the incident at this time.
A resident stated a woman was screaming for her kid, whose bedroom was beside the demolished home.
The 25-year-old told MyLondon: ‘His mother was weeping ‘My baby, my boy’
We’ve heard he’s okay since he was taken to the hospital.
A ‘small child’ and her dad fled the wrecked home, and the mother was rescued.
One Carisbrooke Road homeowner claimed, ‘I heard the explosion at 7am, it was the loudest noise ever.’
I walked down the road to check what occurred this morning and the entire home is gone. Neighbors stated their windows rattled.
Police, firetrucks, and a helicopter were present. I saw no fire, but I can smell gas two roads away. Fearing another explosion, they’re evacuating surrounding homes.
‘A 10 or 11-year-old girl stood outside with a blanket, bless her. God knows how she got out of there, but she has burns.
I suppose her elder sibling was pulled out OK after being reported as remaining inside.
Dominic Francis, 41, and his girlfriend heard a huge thud this morning.
I’m scared something bad will happen to us.
One Facebook user added, ‘I heard it while getting ready for work and assumed it was an explosion but hoped I was mistaken and it was at a construction site or something.’
Another said, “I thought a bomb went off”
Four individuals were treated on Galpins Road, Thornton Heath, said a London Ambulance Service spokeswoman. One was released on site and three were hospitalised.
We’re on site with emergency workers.
Merton council said: ‘We’re dealing with London Fire Brigade and the Met Police after a significant incident in Pollards Hill.
At least one home has been damaged after a gas explosion at a residence. Avoid the area.
Firefighters are searching and securing the location.
New Horizons Centre is an evacuation centre.
Six fire engines and 40 firemen were rushed to Galpin’s Road in Thornton Heath, a spokeswoman said.
An explosion destroyed a terraced home.
13 calls were made to the Brigade’s 999 Control Officers.
0708: The Brigade was summoned. Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside, and other stations responded.
Fire and explosion causes are unknown.
Met Police confirmed police are there. Officers are at the scene at Galpin’s Road, according to a tweet. @LondonFire updates.
London Ambulance Service also responded.