EXPLOSION: Woman Dies After House Destroyed In Leicestershire
12 December 2017, 07:27 | Updated: 12 December 2017, 17:40
A woman has died and a man is still in hospital after a gas explosion destroyed a house in Leicestershire and damaged several others.
A woman died in hospital on Tuesday after the blast, which led to the evacuation of dozens of properties in Birstall at 7:30 on Monday morning.
Two people were dug out from under rubble by firefighters. One man is still receiving hospital treatment.
Leicestershire Fire Service said one semi-detached property had been "involved in gas explosion".
This is the scene in #Birstall where there was a gas explosion this morning which has left 3 people in hospital #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/Cxuh8ysQNi
— CapitalEastMids News (@CapitalEMNews) December 11, 2017
A neighboring property also partially collapsed and six other properties had been affected, it said, adding that no fire or smell of gas had been reported.
Neighbours told Capital they've been helping each other out:
The village hall in #Birstall is being used as emergency accommodation & a crowdfunding page has been set up after a gas explosion this morning that's left 3 in hospital #Leicester. The whole community is pulling together #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/SNSt0fptRK
— CapitalEastMids News (@CapitalEMNews) December 11, 2017
Around 30 people were being looked after at an evacuation center earlier at Birstall Village Hall, most have now returned to their homes.
Firefighters have been doing safety checks at the nearby homes in Allington Drive.
An online fundraising page has been set up for people affected by what happened. It currently has almost £3,000 less than 24 hours after it happened.
Leah Russell, from Birstall, set it up, telling Capital she just wanted to help:
Find out how to donate here.
