Yahoo News Evacuated residents tell of horror after blast tears through County Durham home
Shocked residents who awoke to “claps of thunder” have told how they feared their house was falling down after an explosion in County Durham.
Police, fire crews, and ambulance teams flooded Coronation Terrace, in Willington, at 1.30am on Monday after a blast decimated a terraced home.
Debris was spewed across the street following the explosion, with shocking pictures showing flames pouring from the building in the early hours.
Durham Constabulary has now confirmed that a man was taken to hospital by paramedics for treatment with serious injuries. His condition is not currently known.
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Residents were evacuated from their homes and have since been advised to avoid the area while emergency services continue working at the scene.
David, who lives nearby, told The Northern Echo how he “saw everything” and was alerted to the incident after hearing a bang and seeing a white light, which he believes was the power lines sparking.
He explained: “It was at 1:27am - that’s the time my clocks stopped. I could hear a man shouting and crying for help, a lady was shouting out for help.
“I got dressed and went around and there were two people already stood there. I saw him stood in the rubble with the flames behind him.”
Speaking from the scene on Monday, he said the entire house was “just gone.” He continued: “I heard there has been windows blown out on the street too.
“The gas was only stopped within the last hour - there was still a flame burning from the gas pipe. I hope he’s okay.”
‘It was really shocking’
Pauline Ford said she heard the explosion before looking out of her back window and hearing shouting in the street.
She explained: “I heard the blast then came down and looked out the back window to hear shouting. We were evacuated and I had to go around to my sons.
“There were quite a few people out on the street too, at the time it seemed like it was quite serious.
“It was really shocking. I thought my house was falling down. It’s just really awful, I feel for the lad who lives there.”
Another resident, Angela Graham, said her home now needs repairs to the roof following the blast. She told The Echo: “We are just really shocked.
“You see things like this, but never believe it’s going to happen near you.
“The house has just been left in an absolute mess - I don’t know how we haven’t lost our back windows. We have got a hole in the roof.”
Jake Wilden also said the explosion woke his family up - and he rushed to get his son, wife, and dog to safety. He said: “It woke us up at about 1.30am.
"I rushed to make sure my son was okay and saw the fire through the curtains. I opened them and there was the flames - they were blue.
“Dad instincts kicked in and I grabbed my family and took them outside. We weren’t allowed back in until around 3:40am.
Man suffers serious injuries
Engineers from Northern Gas Networks (NGN) remain on site at the incident alongside police and fire crews.
James Knox, business operations lead for NGN said: “Our engineers are on site at the request of the emergency services, and are supporting them with their investigations.”
A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: “Officers responded to reports of a house explosion at around 1.30am today (June 24) in Coronation Terrace, Willington.
“A man sustained serious injuries during the incident and has been taken to hospital by paramedics for treatment.
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“A cordon has been put in place around the property while emergency services work at the scene. Nearby residents have been evacuated as a precaution and people are advised to avoid the area.”
The North East Ambulance Service has been contacted for further information.
Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24/7.
