A man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after an explosion at a flat.
Police continue to investigate the blast near Beaumont Leys, Leicester, which happened at around 4pm today. Witnesses said they saw people, including children, run for cover and windows were left shattered. An Amazon delivery driver dashed to help rescue the man, believed to be in his mid-30s, from the ground-floor property.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: "Officers received a call at 4.07pm today (24 January) following a report of an explosion at a flat in Kelbrook Close. A man within the property has sustained serious injuries and is being taken to hospital.
"Kelbrook Close and a number of surrounding roads remain closed, and some nearby flats have been evacuated as a precaution. Colleagues from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are also at the scene while enquiries continue."
There were multiple firefighters in the street, and police tape spanned the width of the residential road, witnesses said. A Cadent Gas van is also parked close to the scene, and a representative from the company has confirmed it was called out.
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Traffic was heavy in the residential area due to the investigation, as a result of which several roads were closed. Beaumont Leys is a suburb with a growing population, around three miles from the city centre.
Emergency services have dashed to the flat in north LeicesterJosh Cooper, 25, told Leicestershire Live the blast was so powerful he thought part of his own home, across the street from the blast, had blown up. He said: "It was loud. I dropped my packet of crisps.
"I came out and saw lots of smoke. I had been panicked because I thought it was my own house. I saw people coming out of the buildings, some with kids.
"An Amazon driver had gone inside and came out with the man. I saw the man who was hurt. He was conscious but he was badly burned."
Neighbours said they suspected the incident was a gas explosion, having heard that some people in the area had smelled gas beforehand. One resident, who didn't want to be named, said: "It's just so scary. The gas can build up and then one spark and boom. It really makes you think. I heard from someone that the blast was so powerful it blew their front door right open."
Diogo Moreira helped the injured man to safetyKelly Wilson, 37, who lives in a house across the street from the explosion, said: "I heard a hiss first, then the bang and it exploded.
"The windows all blew out and there's glass all across the street and it went everywhere. It was a really big explosion. It shook my whole house."
Cadent do not believe the explosion is related to the gas network. A spokesperson for gas emergency service said: “We are at the scene of this incident to support the emergency services and ensure everything related to gas is safe. Whilst it is too early to say what caused the explosion, we do not believe it is related to the gas network.
“Incidents like this serve as an important reminder – to call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999*, day or night, if you smell gas.”
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Kelbrook Close at around 4.10pm today to reports of smoke seen coming from a flat and an explosion heard.
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A spokesperson said: "There is no cause at the moment but we are going back to investigate tomorrow. An appliance has just left the scene but we will be returning for reinspection for any hotspots."
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