Bury explosion - live: School evacuated after blast rips through nearby house as woman seriously injured
A house was destroyed in an explosion that sparked a fire, leaving a woman in her 70s seriously injured and needing hospital treatment.
A nearby primary school in Greater Manchester was evacuated after the suspected gas explosion.
Children and staff at St Luke’s Church of England Primary School in Fishpool in Bury left the school after the blast, which was just yards away, according to Bury Council’s deputy leader, Tamoor Tariq.
Terraced homes on either side of the wrecked house were also damaged, and neighbours were forced to flee, taking shelter with families or friends elsewhere.
“I understand everyone has been taken into a place of safety and emergency services are doing all possible to deal with this awful situation,” Mr Tariq wrote on social media.
He added: “The house directly affected is in an extremely bad state following the explosion [and] the house was destroyed by the strong flames from the fire.”
Key Points
Flames tear through house
School closes after fire hits power supply
Nearby neighbours take shelter
Householders told to keep doors and windows closed
Flames tear through house
14:30 , Jane Dalton
Footage showed flames ripping through the house.
A woman is in hospital after a suspected gas explosion in Bury.
This video from Ahmad Ch shows the incredible intensity of the fire. pic.twitter.com/8JQXyEDrNd— Greatest Hits Radio News (@GHRNewsUK) February 28, 2024
Fire seen coming from house roof
14:19 , Jane Dalton
The explosion at a house in Nelson Street started a fire.
Rhys Owen, who lives on nearby Brierley Street, told the Bury Times: “I heard a helicopter flying over about 11am and I could see a house on fire rising from the roof.
“I went round and there was lots of police and fire vehicles, an ambulance and a cordon in place.”
He added that someone he knew nearer to the incident heard a bang.
Council officials at the scene
14:02 , Jane Dalton
Bury council officials went to the scene, and police went door-to-door to advise people to leave their homes if possible.
Emergency crews were there for at least two hours after the explosion, around 11am.
Smoke fills air
14:02 , Jane Dalton
Clouds of smoke filling the air around nearby streets, and householders were advised to keep windows closed.
The explostion was described by some as a gas explosion, but emergency services have not confirmed that, and the cause is still unknown.
Where the blast happened
13:57 , Jane Dalton
School closes after fire hits power supply
13:56 , Jane Dalton
St Luke’s primary school decided to get pupils out because conditions were deteriorating where the fire affected electricity supplies to the school, said councillor Tamoor Tariq.
Parents had been told, he said.
Police promise to alert neighbours
13:51 , Jane Dalton
Greater Manchester Police said other neighbours would be told if they needed to do anything else.
A spokesperson told The Independent: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at a property on Nelson Street in the Fishpool area of Bury.
“At this stage, a woman in her 70s has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. A 200m cordon is in place around the property and neighbouring homes.
“Local residents and the community will be informed if they need to take any further action.”
Neighbouring homes damaged
13:48 , Jane Dalton
Both properties next to the house where the explosion happened were damaged, said Bury Council’s deputy leader, Tamoor Tariq.
A cordon is in place around the affected property and neighbouring homes.
Nearby neighbours take shelter
13:41 , Jane Dalton
People affected took shelter with neighbours, family or friends, according to Bury Council’s deputy leader Tamoor Tariq.
No one died in the blast but the house was in an extremely bad state, he said.
Fire crews hose down house
13:39 , Jane Dalton
Householders told to keep doors and windows closed
13:36 , Jane Dalton
Fire chiefs advised residents to keep their windows and doors closed and avoid the scene while crews carried out their work following the blast.
⚠️ Multiple crews are currently at the scene of an incident on Nelson Street, Bury, working alongside other emergency services.
Residents in the area are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the scene while crews carry out their work. pic.twitter.com/A3SFyTpUcH— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) February 28, 2024
Emergency services rush to scene
13:34 , Jane Dalton
A number of fire crews rushed to the area, in Nelson Street, Bury, as well as other emergency services.
Woman seriously injured in blast
13:30 , Jane Dalton
Welcome to our live blog on an explosion at a house in Greater Manchester.
A woman in her 70s has been taken to hospital with serious injuries, Greater Manchester Police say.
And a nearby primary school was evacuated.
