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A Blackburn house has collapsed after a massive explosion tore through it, sending debris falling down onto the residential street.
CCTV footage shared to social media shows an enormous fireball swallowing a home on London Road in Blackburn at around 7.40pm tonight.
Orange light flashes brightly at the side of the video, and quickly disappears as masonry tumbles into the street, which lies north of the city’s centre and has been partly sealed off by police.
A second video showed onlookers crowding around the charred remains of the property, as several firefighters work to get inside.
Police said one man has been taken to hospital after he was rescued by firefighters from the property.
The as-yet-unnamed man is believed to be the only casualty, and his injures are not life-threatening.
The cause of the explosion is not currently known, and police are currently investigating.
Lancashire Police said in a statement tonight: ‘We were called at shortly before 8pm this evening to a report of a house collapse at an address on London Road and emergency services including police, fire and ambulance were quickly on the scene.
‘One man was rescued from the property by firefighters and taken to hospital by ambulance.
‘His injuries are not at this time thought to be life threatening. He is believed to be the only casualty.
‘A number of nearby properties were evacuated, and a rest centre set up at the Noorani Education Centre on Hartley Street and we are really grateful to them for their support.’
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said: ‘We are currently dealing with a domestic building incident on London Road in Blackburn. We have fire engines from Blackburn and Hyndburn in attendance, and our Urban Search and Rescue Team from Chorley.
‘We ask people to please avoid the area during this time. Our drone team are using the drone to monitor the incident from above, so please do not fly any drones in this area.’
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
