Major incident declared as people evacuated after huge 'gas' explosion reduces home to rubble

A major incident has been declared after a huge explosion reduced a home to rubble.

Specialist urban search and rescue teams have been deployed this morning (13 April) in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, after the blast yesterday evening.

Multiple properties in and around the road were also evacuated as the emergency services continue to work to account for all residents.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received its first report about the incident in John Street at 7:39pm on Saturday (12 April) as locals wrote on social media that they’d heard what was ‘presumably a gas explosion’.

Police said the terraced property had been ‘partially destroyed’ with the adjoining homes also damaged. The public are advised to still avoid the area as officers worked throughout the night.

The building has been 'significantly damaged'. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The latest statement from Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service reads: “Three fire engines remain on scene at this incident, with fire crews working alongside specialist Urban Search & Rescue Teams to account for all local residents.

“The building involved in this explosion has been significantly damaged. Structural engineers will be assessing the situation later today (Sunday 13 April), but people are still advised to avoid the area.”

It added that it is ‘still a major incident’.

Chief Inspector Neil Humphris, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This is a major incident and emergency services will remain at the scene throughout the night.

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"Multiple properties have been evacuated as we work with our partners to respond to this incident and understand how it happened."

The nearby Crown Place Community Centre was opened as a place of safety for residents with the major incident declared late last night.

With East Midlands Ambulance Service supporting the fire and police crews leading on the scene, no confirmation of casualties has yet been confirmed by emergency services.

Images appearing to show the destroyed home have since circulated on social media as people on Facebook described hearing a ‘huge’ bang which shook the surrounding properties.

Much of the area has been evacuated. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

On X, one person asked at around 8.06pm: “Did anyone else hear a loud bang /explosion sound in Worksop North Nottingham around 30 minutes ago?”

And another wrote on Facebook at about 8.10pm: “I was driving back from Mass this evening, just turned into Gladstone Street from Gateford Road, when there was a terrific bang, like a very loud firework! I thought the back end had blown off my car.

“A house in John Street has had, presumably, a gas explosion!”

Karolina Ciolko, who lives nearby, told the BBC: "I was lying in bed when I heard an explosion.

"I quickly looked out the window. I saw smoke and the car in front of me rocked and the alarm went off. We quickly ran out of the house to see what had happened."

Anyone who has any additional information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 612 of April 12.