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A four-year-old girl is believed to have died after a house collapsed in an explosion in Thornton Heath.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, London Ambulance Service said in an update, while three people were taken to hospital after an explosion at a property on Galpin’s Road on Monday morning.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said a terraced house had collapsed and neighboring properties had suffered damage.
The Metropolitan Police said the child found dead is believed to be a four-year-old girl.
“His relatives have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers,” a statement said on Monday afternoon.
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“The investigation into the cause of the incident, along with colleagues from the LFB, remains ongoing. Road closures will remain in place around the scene while work continues.”
Engineers from the gas distribution company SGN are assisting in the investigation.
Speaking at the scene, Brigade Assistant Deputy Commissioner Richard Welch said thoughts are with the family, friends and local community.
“The welfare of everyone involved in this incident is very important to us, and our staff will be given counseling as a matter of priority.”
London Fire Brigade Assistant Deputy Commissioner Richard Welch at the scene
/ PA
Welch said no further searches are underway for anyone else.
40 properties have been evacuated due to the “substantial” blast zone, and crews would remain on site overnight for public safety.
Welch said the evacuated residents are currently in a respite center and will be provided accommodation until they can return to their homes. He said the local authority, the London Borough of Merton, is helping to provide medicine.
Residents of the scene had previously expressed concern over the disappearance of a child.
Dozens of residents gathered near a police cordon at the end of the street hours later said they believed a woman and four children lived in the collapsed house.
Many also said they reported a strong smell of gas in the area which had persisted for about two weeks, but the London Fire Brigade said it could not confirm whether the gas caused the explosion.
Neighbors say that the gas engineers had been working in the street but they had not been seen for a few days.
Galpin’s Road residents Delroy Simms, 62, and Kutoya Kukanda, 50, were described as “heroes” after they rescued three children from the house moments after the explosion.
Simms, dressed in his pajamas by the cord, said: “I was getting ready to go to work when I heard the explosion.
“I already knew what it was because that gas smelled all week, very strong. I had a headache yesterday.
“My neighbor has been calling them (gas engineers) all week.”
Residents Delroy Simms, 62, (left) and Kutoya Kukanda, 50
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“When I heard the explosion it was like an earthquake. It shook me and my house. Our window blinds were blown off their hinges.
“I went to the window and saw the devastation.”
Mr. Simms said that Mr. Kukanda passed him children because the bricks were still falling from the structure.
Mr Kukanda, who had a bruised shin from a falling brick, told PA: “I heard a boom, then I opened the door.
“I saw smoke, the house had collapsed and people were screaming inside. I went in and took the first baby – there were three children.
“I picked up one of the kids, gave it to him (Mr Simms). The mother was screaming and saying, ‘One of my daughters is still in there’. Everything was falling.”
PA
Firefighters were called at 7.08am, with crews from Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside and surrounding fire stations at the scene.
One resident said on social media: “I heard it as I was getting ready for work and I thought it sounded like an explosion but I was hoping I was wrong and it was a construction site or something.”
Another added: “It was such a loud bang that it was thought a bomb had gone off.”
Members of London Fire Brigade’s urban search and rescue team at the scene on Galpin’s Road in Thornton
/ PA
A spokesman for Merton Council said earlier on Monday: “Emergency services are on the scene following a gas explosion at a residential property, at least one property has been destroyed. We are asking people to avoid the area.
“At this time, firefighters are conducting systematic searches and working to make the scene safe.”
An evacuation center has been set up at the nearby New Horizons Community Center.