BREAKING NEWS: Body of fifth victim in Leicester shop fire is pulled from the wreckage by firemen picking through rubble for survivors
The body of a fifth victim in the Leicester shop fire has been pulled from the wreckage as firemen continue to pick through the rubble to find survivors.
A major search and rescue operation continued today after a huge explosion demolished Zabka Leicester grocery store and the two-storey flat above it. The blast at 7.20pm last night sparked a huge blaze, with flames shooting up to 50ft into the air.
This morning it emerged that four people, who had been taken to hospital, had died. And firefighters this afternoon pulled the body a fifth victim from the rubble. Five others were taken to hospital with injuries, with one person in critical condition.
Police and fire chiefs revealed they are still searching for missing people, who remain unaccounted for, and may still be trapped in the building among the wreckage.
Leicestershire Police, who had earlier declared a major incident, said nothing at this stage linked it to terrorism. Immediately after the expolosion, passers-by dug through the burning wreckage of the store with their bare hands as emergency services raced to the scene.
Aerial views of the scene today showed the scale of devastation caused by the explosion, in what has been described as a pancake collapse. CCTV footage captured the moment the huge explosion obliterated the convenience store at around 7.
Flames as high as 50ft in the air were seen coming from the building as a result of the huge explosion in Leicester.
Firefighters continued to battle the flames this morning (pictured) and they cannot enter the site to search the wreckage for survivors until it is deemed safe.
The explosion, which happened on Hinckley Road, Leicester, left a total of eight people in hospital - five of which have now been confirmed dead. Pictured is the scene this morning.
An aerial view of the scene of the explosion in Leicester, where five people died and a three-storey building was demolished .
An aerial view of the scene shows the scale of devastation caused by the explosion, in what has been described as a pancake collapse.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred at 7. 20pm last night while the grocery shop and its neighbouring takeaway restaurant and bar were open, remained a mystery today with gas engineers on site.
In the aftermath of the explosion, with rubble all over the street, shocked witnesses beginning the task of searching the wreckage for survivors.
Superintendent Shane ONeill of Leicestershire Police and Matt Cane, Group Manager of the fire brigade, speak to the media this morning.
The horrifying moment the explosion obliterated the convenience store and two-storey flat above it was captured on CCTV. The footage shows smoke burst out onto the street at the moment of impact, before flames rip through the building.
Stunned residents and passers-by are also seen watching on in horror from across the street. .
Superintendent Shane ONeill said: We know the explosion and subsequent fire will have caused considerable concern to residents and business owners in the area and we would like to thank people for their support and patience while teams continue with their work at the scene.
There are now five confirmed fatalities and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital. The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it.
We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties.
Although the cause of the explosion is not yet known, there is no evidence that this is linked to terrorism. .
Matt Cane, Group Manager from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: Crews have worked through the night, alongside Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and other partner agencies, tackling the fire and searching the scene in order to locate any further survivors or casualties.
There are still pockets of fire in the basement area of the building.
We have a significant number of specialist search and rescue teams who are supported by two search dogs, and this level of resourcing is likely to be in place throughout the day.
It may be some days yet before we will be able to establish the probable cause of the explosion.
The rescue work at the scene of the former supermarket in Hinckley Road has been temporarily suspended due to the structural integrity of a neighbouring building, and the search and rescue work will resume shortly.
Hinckley Road, from its junction with Bolton Road to its junction with Woodville Road, remains closed in both directions and motorists are advised to avoid the area and listen to local traffic reports for up-to-date information on road closures.
Power supplies to a number of homes in the immediate area were affected by the incident and by lunchtime today will be restored to all but a handful of homes. .
Nicola Bishop, 32, who runs Sunshine Studios a few doors down from the blast site, said she understands a family of four lived in the two-bedroom flat above the shop.
She said: I left my studios an hour before the explosion. I was at home when I heard about it from some customers asking if I was all right. .
Sixty homes were evacuated and surrounding roads were shut as part of the emergency response after the former Londis store suffered what firefighters described as a pancake collapse.
Aerial view of the scene of an explosion in Leicester, where five people have been confirmed dead after a suspected gas blast.
I dont really use the shop which was destroyed but I have chatted to the owner who said he had recently let out the flat above to a family of four. It looks like they could be the victims.
Looking at videos of the explosion which are on social media it looks like the flames were as a result of a gas leak but I didnt smell anything when I left work. Im so sorry for the family. .
Electricity to a number of homes was affected by the incident and a cordon was put in place, but no neighbouring properties were evacuated overnight.
Matt Cane, Group Manager, said: Crews have worked through the night, alongside partner agencies, as they continue to search the scene in order to try and locate any further survivors or casualties.
We have six fire crews on scene, including a specialist search and rescue team who are supported by two search dogs, and this level of resourcing is likely to be in place throughout the day.
The cause of the explosion and fire is still yet to be determined and we will work closely with colleagues from the police as our enquiries into the circumstances continue today.
Police and fire chiefs revealed they are still searching for missing people, who remain unaccounted for, and may still be trapped in the building. Pictured are firefighters at the scene this morning.
The scene on Hinckley Road, Leicester, where firefighters continue to battle flames after an explosion at a shop. Police and fire chiefs revealed they are still searching for missing people, who remain unaccounted for, and may still be trapped in the building.
Firefighters at the scene on Hinckley Road in Leicester, where an explosion destroyed a shop building and home - killing four people.
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