House destroyed by explosion in Manchester
The home in Blackley can be seen roofless and reduced to crumbling brickwork in videos and pictures on social media.
A house has partially collapsed after an explosion in Blackley. 5 injured, picture from @manchesterfire#HeartNewspic.twitter.com/B9PnYo9cLs
— North West News (@HeartNWNews) January 16, 2017
Emergency services were first called to the scene at 12:30 and five people are reported to have been injured though it is unclear how badly.
Neighbours told the Manchester Evening News they heard a noise like a “bomb going off.”
More shots of the house explosion in Blackley, firefighters and Technical Response Units at the scene. More to follow... pic.twitter.com/5ZNF6y0LYO
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) January 16, 2017
One local man said: “I went to the street and it looks like it has taken out an entire house. There were loads of police and fire crews there.”
Another said: “The house shook we thought someone had crashed a car in to our house so we went out to see and it was that bang.”
In a statement on their website, Manchester fire service said: "At 12:40PM on Monday, January 16, five crews from Blackley, Ashton, Central First, Broughton and Chadderton were called to a partially collapsed end terrace in Victoria Avenue, Blackley.
Crews assessing the scene and undergoing primary checks to the damaged property. pic.twitter.com/Zlh9hdD3nc
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) January 16, 2017
"Crews are assessing the scene and carrying out a primary search of the area. One casualty is being treated by the road.
"An aerial unit from Stretford is on route, along with two TIUs from Ashton and Leigh, a command unit from Rochdale, a timber unit from Rochdale and a fire dog."
There are unconfirmed reports that the incident was a gas explosion.
