A woman has now died after a huge explosion destroyed a house in Birmingham.
West Midlands police said they were called just after 8.30pm on Sunday after the incident on Dulwich Road in Kingstanding.
One house was destroyed and several others were significantly damaged, as well as nearby cars, the force said.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said people at the scene rescued a man from the wrecked house, but he had ‘very serious injuries’ and was taken to hospital.
Firefighters then confirmed this morning that a woman had been pronounced dead at the scene of the fire.
Residents last night described how they climbed past flaming debris, through dust and debris, after the explosion and pulled an injured man alive from the ruins of the house alive shortly afterwards.
The area was evacuated and four other men were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
As of Monday 4 a.m., firefighters said good progress is being made at the scene and a drone is being used to identify any hotspots.
WMFS said it was working with West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Cadent Gas and the National Grid to manage the incident.
Emergency services were called tonight at 20:38 to the scene of a house in Dulwich Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham that exploded
The West Midlands Police Department said in a statement: ‘Evacuations are taking place. Those who have been evacuated will be told where to meet. People in the area should immediately follow the instructions of first responders.
Another corner of the explosion in Kingstanding shows that the house was completely destroyed, as well as major damage done to the neighboring houses
Emergency services said evacuations were taking place and people were urged to avoid the area, with Dulwich Road and surrounding roads closed. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said West Midlands Police, WMAS, Cadent Gas and the National Grid were all in charge of the incident.
Six firefighters, three ambulances, five paramedics and a national inter-agency liaison officer were among the resources sent to the scene.
The force said in a statement: ‘Evacuations are taking place. Those who have been evacuated will be told where to meet. People in the area should immediately follow the instructions of first resources.
‘Dulwich Road and surrounding roads have been closed and will be for a very long time. Please help us by avoiding the area. The cause of the explosion is not yet known.
‘Please think of those involved and their loved ones and do not post images online.
“We will keep you posted as soon as we have hard facts.”
An aerial shot of the exploded house shows it has been completely destroyed, with emergency services looking after the incident
West Midlands Ambulance Service said people at the scene rescued a man from the wrecked house, but he had ‘very serious injuries’ and was taken to hospital.
Large crowds gathered around the cordon after the news of the explosion on Dulwich Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, spread
‘Dulwich Road and surrounding roads have been closed and will be for a very long time. Please help us by avoiding the area. The cause of the explosion is not yet known, “said West Midlands police.
Local residents reported that nearby residents ran into the destroyed homes in an attempt to evacuate those inside
Local residents reported that nearby residents ran into the destroyed homes in an attempt to evacuate those inside.
One man, who refused to give his name, told the PA news agency: ‘Everyone was watching, the house was on fire, no one went in, so we could see an entrance – so we got the house entered, me and about a dozen others.
There was a guy in the back (in the house), we could hear the guy screaming, but he was trapped against the fridge in the kitchen.
‘The dust from the attic insulation burned around us. We managed to get out to him, and pull him out – I still have his blood on my jeans.
‘We took him out, he finally came out on a mattress. But he said there was a woman in the house. ‘
“His clothes were blown off, you could not even see him, he was full of blood,” the rescuer added.
He added: ‘We just went straight through the (front) door, and I thought I was going through the door of the house – but it was actually the door next door, because the house door was destroyed.
‘We came out from behind, and then we heard the man screaming, and we dug him out.
‘He was in the kitchen, flat on the floor, with his back to a fridge or washing machine.
“He went ‘don’t pull me – my legs’ and I said’ mate, we’ll have to take you out now ‘.’
The group of rescuers broke damaged water pipes between the rubble to try to put out their own clothes to protect them from the flames.
The resident stood by the police cordon and watched the emergency services operating under powerful spotlights amid the devastation, adding: ‘There is nothing left of that house at all.
“We went through the house – and that house is gone.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service also said they sent three ambulances, five paramedics, MERIT trauma doctor, critical care paramedic, West Midlands care team, Dangerous Area Response Team and a national inter-agency liaison officer to the scene.
The West Midlands Fire Department sent six firefighters to the incident and warned people to ‘avoid the area at this time’.
West Midlands Ambulance Service also said they sent three ambulances, five paramedics, MERIT trauma doctor, critical care paramedic, West Midlands care team, Dangerous Area Response Team and a national inter-agency liaison officer to the scene.