Three people injured in house explosion
A BUSY road through Derbyshire has been closed following an explosion on Monday afternoon which has left three people injured and is believed to have caused structural damage at several properties.
St Helen’s Street, near the B6057 Sheffield Road, in Chesterfield, was closed after residents heard loud noises at around 5.30pm.
Derbyshire Police and Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and warned locals to avoid the area if possible.
Following the explosion, bricks and the door of the affected house were found lying on the opposite side of the street.
A woman, who lives in the property, also had to be rescued from her upstairs bedroom window following the incident.
Derbyshire Police have confirmed that three people were injured after the explosion.
The force said yesterday: “The road is likely to remain closed whilst they assess the damage that has been made to the property.
“All the people from the property have been removed and they are all well and being treated for any injuries they may have received.”
Police had posted on social media on Monday: “People in parts of Chesterfield will lose their gas and electric supply this evening following a partial building collapse.
“Firefighters are currently at a property in St Helen’s Street, where there is severe structural damage to a building.
“In order to deal with the incident, the gas and electric supply needs to be cut off and will be out for at least three hours.
“It is unclear at this moment how many properties this will affect.”
Luna and Steve, who live two doors down from the affected property, told the Derby Telegraph: “We thought it was two cars smashing into each other at 80mph. There were three people in the building, one woman upstairs and a guy in the cellar.
“The house has been totally gutted, destroying the stairs.
“It was like a war zone here last night, the electric was turned back on at 3.45am.”
Steve, who lives in St Helen’s Street, said: “It blew up the roof tiles and then they settled back down afterwards.”
Houses on the street are believed to have been affected by severe structural damage following the explosion.
The road was still closed yesterday morning. Derbyshire Police and Cadent Gas remained on the scene.
An investigation team from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service also arrived on the scene yesterday morning and it is believed they would begin their enquiries into the cause of the blast.