Ealing explosion: Deaths feared in gas blast in London
People are believed to have died after a suspected gas explosion caused a building to collapse in west London, the fire service has said.
The emergency services were called to the property on King Street in Ealing on Wednesday morning, following reports of an explosion there shortly before 6.40am.
The blast reportedly took place in a phone shop that was located below some flats.
Station commander Paul Morgan said: "Sadly we believe that there are fatalities within the property although we're unable to confirm numbers at this stage.”
Mr Morgan also said that the explosion had “caused substantial damage to the shop and structural damage throughout” the building.
“It is a painstaking and protracted incident with firefighters working systematically to stabilise the building and search for people involved. We'd ask for people to avoid the area at this time,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, firefighters used a ladder to bring five people at the back of the collapsed building to safety, one of whom was injured as a result of the blast.
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said that one person had been discharged after receiving treatment for their injuries.
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