Suspected gas explosion in Roker area of Sunderland

The roof and part of the front were blown from a house in the Roker area of Sunderland, leaving bricks and debris in the street.

Emergency services were called to the street at 3.45pm.

The property has been extensively damaged

Walter Taylor, who lives nearby, said: “I was in the kitchen making a cup of tea when I heard this ‘whoosh’. It wasn’t a ‘bang’, it was a ‘whoosh’.

“I looked out of the window and saw the smoke going down the road.

“All the lads from the garage came running upwards.

"I came out of my flat. All the lads from the garage were clearing the road.

“It was quite obvious what had happened. There was not fire. It was a gas explosion. That is all it could be.”

Neighbour John Ellis, 43, received a phone call about the blast and believed his father, with whom he lives, was at home at the time as he works nights, but by luck he was doing training.

He told the PA news agency: “I was ringing him and he wasn’t answering and when I got here I thought he was dead.

“Luckily, it’s not turned out that way.”

Mr Ellis, a truck driver, said his council flat has been destroyed by the blast, along with the contents, and he was not insured.

He said: “The roof’s been blown off, the front’s collapsed, the back’s collapsed, it’s uninhabitable.”

But Mr Ellis said all the property, clothes, TV and furniture, can all be replaced.

He said he thought his neighbour had been pulled out by the fire brigade and that the air ambulance had been at the scene.

Picture: JIM SCOTT

A cordon was put in place with emergency vehicles outside the house.

A North East Ambulance spokesman said one person had been taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital, and another to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Nobody else has been reported to be injured at this time.

In total four appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehicle and the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team were dispatched to the scene by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Peter Heath said crews would remain in the area last night alongside colleagues at Northumbria Police evening to ensure the site is safe.

He said: “This has been a significant explosion and there has been substantial damage caused to the property in question.

“Thankfully our crews were quickly on scene alongside our other blue light partners to assist two male casualties from the area and they have since been transferred to hospital.

“We will remain in the area alongside our partners this evening to assess the site and ensure it is structurally safe.

"Some residents in the immediate vicinity have also been evacuated as a precaution.

“We know this will be concerning for local residents and we would ask that anyone present in the area listens to the advice and instruction of the emergency services.”

Specialist fire service staff will be working on an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

The two properties concerned in the incident are owned by Gentoo.

A spokesman for the housing association said: "Gentoo was made aware of a major incident today at 3.45pm that occurred at two Gentoo flats on Whickham Street in Roker.

“Reports indicate this may have been a gas explosion, however investigations are ongoing, and we are cooperating with the emergency services and the local authority.

“We are doing everything that we can to offer as much support as possible to tenants, including providing temporary accommodation.

“The safety of our residents is our priority and we have staff at the scene offering support.

"We are clearly concerned for the wellbeing for the two confirmed casualties that have been taken to local hospitals. Our thoughts are with the casualties and their families at this difficult time.”

Ian Waddle, Head of Customer Operations Support for Northern Gas Networks said: "Our engineers are on site at the request of the emergency services, assisting them with their investigations."

 Northumbria Police spokesperson said officers from the force were also at the scene.

A spokesman said: "At 3.45pm today we received a report of a suspected gas explosion at an address on Whickham Street, Sunderland.

“Emergency services are at the scene. Two men have been taken to hospital with injuries that are not deemed to be life-threatening at this time.

“Officers remain in the area alongside Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and anyone with concerns is asked to speak to them.”

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