Three people have been seriously injured after a suspected gas explosion which caused their homes to collapse.
Emergency services were called to an address on Hugh Street in Whitehaven at 4.23pm on Tuesday (December 31). Cumbria Police said two men and a woman have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The force said a number of animals were also rescued and displaced residents have found alternative accommodation as a multi-agency response continues. Cumbria Fire and Rescue, North West Ambulance Service and Northern Gas Networks (NGN) all went to the scene and people are being urged to avoid the area.
The community has now set up fundraisers for those impacted – and say at least two of the properties on the street have totally collapsed.
Superintendent Paddy O’Hara, of Cumbria Police, said last night: “Police and partners are likely to continue to be in attendance and working at the scene through the night. I’d like to thank the local people impacted by this unexpected event for their resourcefulness and patience, as well as emergency service partners, the local authority and other partner agencies for their work following this incident.
“Finally I would like to give particular thanks to the police officers who first responded to the incident. Their efforts to assist people resulted in their being briefly hospitalised with smoke inhalation but I’m pleased to report they have since been discharged from hospital.”
Emergency services were called to a home in Hugh Street in Whitehaven on New Year’s Eve
One fundraiser set up on GoFundMe by Sarah Buchanan says: “As I’m sure all our Whitehaven friends will have have heard, there has been a gas explosion on Hugh street bransty and it has obviously came as a massive shock for all involved including myself. I am a relative to the family that has be involved and I know this is obviously going to have a massive life changing effect in many ways, as it it’s early days I know but the impact of this incident is clearly going to have huge impact to there lives both on recovery and rebuilding.
“We do not know at this point the extent of the injuries to all involved and as to what the outcome may be but I feel anything to help at this moment would beneficial to the family.”
Cumbria Fire and Rescue, North West Ambulance Service and Northern Gas Networks all went to the scene
Another fundraiser by Matthew Stephenson reads: “Today, Tuesday the 31st December at 16.22pm a catastrophic gas explosion happened at Hugh Street, Bransty. Three people are in hospital with serious injury’s and other residents have had their homes destroyed.
“At least two of the properties have a total collapse and other houses on the road have suffered extensive damage. Any money raised will be given to / shared evenly between al residents whose houses where affected / all costs associated with the gas explosion.
The incident happened at 4.23pm on Tuesday
“Please please pull together and donate anything you can , on New Year’s Eve the devastation caused is unimaginable. Children without homes , elderly with serious injuries and no home , other property’s damaged.
“We have to pull together to help in any way we can , any donation no matter how small is greatly appreciated.”
You can donate to the fundraisers here and here.
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