HORROR AS MASSIVE BLAST DESTROYS SHOP AND FLAT IN LEICESTER
A HUGE explosion tore through a shop and flats last night amid fears that people could be trapped in the wreckage.
Four people were in hospital. Neighbours last night described running to the building that was destroyed in the explosion in a busy suburban street.
Jonny Halliwell said he heard a “huge bang” which shook the walls of his house and rushed out to see people running down the street towards Weston Park Convenience store in Hinckley Road, Leicester.
A major rescue effort was launched after a fireball ripped through the shop and flats and a video clip appeared to show emergency services rushing to the aid of someone near the blast site.
The explosion, suggested to have been caused by a gas leak, was heard for miles around.
“People grabbed blankets and ran towards the fire to try to help people,” said Mr Halliwell.
“There was rubble and shop fittings everywhere. I saw people pulling up chunks of rubble and searching for people underneath.
“It was like someone took a delete tool on a computer and just erased the whole building. The shop was open until 10pm so there would have been people in there at the time.”
Trapped
Another witness said: “It’s blown the shop across both sides of the road and there is carnage everywhere.”
Police declared a “major incident” and six fire engines rushed to the Polish convenience store.
A search and rescue operation was being carried out and around 60 houses were also said to have been evacuated.
Dramatic pictures showed flames shooting 100ft from the property.
Neighbours raised concerns there were people trapped inside the shop, which had been trading for six weeks, but it was not officially confirmed.
Some people may also have been queuing at a bus stop immediately in front of the shop when the explosion happened shortly after 7pm.
Windows were also blown out of Morgan’s Bar next to the shop.
A passer-by who was just a few seconds’ walk from the scene when the blast happened said: “It’s absolute devastation. I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life.
“There was a huge bang, then loads of smoke, and then in just a minute or two the whole site was engulfed in flames and you could hear sirens. The emergency services were at the scene extremely quickly.
“There’s debris everywhere. I’m in shock. I just hope there was nobody in the building. It’s horrific.”
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said it was not known if people were injured or trapped and the building where the explosion happened had suffered a “pancake collapse”.
A Twitter user added: “The whole building is gone. It was a horrendous blast.”
Leicestershire Police said: “All emergency services are currently dealing with this. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed.”