Two houses in Clacton, Essex, flattened by gas explosion, leaving several people hurt

Several people have been injured after a gas explosion ripped through two houses on a residential street this morning.

Firefighters, police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene in Clacton, Essex after the blast which caused the entire front of one house to collapse and sent debris flying into neighbouring houses around 8:30am.

Five people were rushed to hospital including one with life-threatening injuries. Five others were being treated at the scene.

Smoke billowed into the sky from the two semi-detached houses on Cloes Lane as emergency workers rescued casualties from the burning buildings while evacuating people from the rest of the street.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines were sent to the scene.

Assistant Divisional Officer Lee Palfreyman, said: “The blast flattened two houses and badly damaged a third. Debris flew in all directions damaging windows and roofs. Crews are continuing their work at the scene. The evacuation of properties is now complete and the Gas Board are in attendance assessing the scene.”

Two air ambulances, five ambulances and a rapid response car were also scrambled along with several paramedics to treat the injured.

One eyewitness, Gwen Mitchell, a Tendring District Council member who lives opposite the blast site, said: “It is very frightening. It looks like one house has gone, the whole front seems to be gone. You can smell the smoke in the air.”

Some people living in the area tweeted that the explosion caused their homes to “shake”.

The explosion caused a gas-fuelled fire which fire crews said they were leaving to burn under control.