Three people rushed to hospital as explosion rips through home in West Yorkshire – leaving neighbours’ houses shaking
THREE people have been rushed to hospital this morning after an explosion ripped through a home in West Yorkshire.
Emergency services were called to the Illingworth home as the property was consumed in a fireball just before 7.30am today.
Aerial photographs of the scene shows that one of the homes appears to have been completely destroyed in the blast as neighbours said the house had “disappeared” in just seconds.
Locals today said the force of the blast was so strong they thought it was an earthquake.
Three people were treated at the scene on Green Lane before being taken to hospital.
Shocking photographs have since emerged showing rubble strewn across the street, with smoke billowing into the air.
Michael Dunn lives about 3.5miles from the scene in Denholm and said it had been felt in the small village.
He said: “Just had a call from my mother in Bradshaw, she heard a huge bang like an explosion upstairs so called up to see if everything was okay.
“There were emergency services everywhere, and a five minute walk away this house had disappeared, it was heard and felt in Denholm.”
One local wrote on social media: “I thought it was an earthquake. Dogs were going mental.”
Another added: “We heard the bang and our windows all shook.”
It is not yet clear what sparked the explosion.
Locals have already banded together, suggesting a fundraiser for the people involved after the explosion unfolded just three weeks before Christmas.
Authorities confirmed no one else was missing at this time.
Fire crews are now working at the scene with West Yorkshire Police and utility services.
Firefighters are having to put out pockets of fire.
The incident affected one building and six surrounding houses have been evacuated as a safety precaution.
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West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service tweeted today: Crews are currently dealing with an incident at Green Ln, Illingworth
“They’re working with @WestYorksPolice @YorksAmbulance @Calderdale & utility companies to deal with an explosion at a house 3 people have been treated & transported to hospital.
“All other persons accounted for.”