House explosion in Manchester
© Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue
At least 10 people have been injured after an explosion destroyed a terraced house in Greater Manchester.

Emergency services found several people hurt on the ground following the blast that left the property in Ashton-under-Lyne collapsed at both the front and back. Three people have suffered serious injuries and seven others were left with minor wounds following the explosion during the early hours of Tuesday.

Aerial images showed a large pile of bricks strewn in front of the house, as rooms were left exposed with furniture visible from the road. The roof of at least one other property appeared to be badly damaged. The cause of the explosion, at around 5am, is currently unconfirmed.
Aeriel view
© Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service deployed six engines to the scene. Gas and electricity supplies were turned off at the house and four neighbouring properties. Rescue crews described how the explosion had caused the property to collapse at the front and back.

Station manager Alan Ashworth, incident commander at the scene, said: "When crews arrived there were a number of people injured on the floor and it was obvious there had been an explosion in the house. "We helped them but they were later treated by paramedics from North West Ambulance Service while we tackled the fire using covering jets.

"We haven't been able to go inside the house as both the front back walls have completely collapsed." Later, Mr Ashworth said the number of casualties had risen to "at least 10". He told reporters: "We are concerned for three of these casualties; some of them do have quite severe lacerations and burns."

Mr Ashworth said a man, woman and their adult daughter lived at the property - which has been left in ruins following the blast. "We don't have full details of the casualties, but we now know three people were inside the property at the time of the explosion," he said. "We don't yet know the cause of the explosion and our fire investigation team are at the scene working with the police."

The family's daughter, Leanne, told the Manchester Evening News that her parents, 63 and 53, and sister, 22, live in the property. She said they were in a stable condition in hospital after two jumped from a window and the third from the roof.

The fire service were called to reports of a house fire, but while en route to the incident it was revealed there was an explosion.

It is understood neighbours came to the aid of those trapped in the property and that a number of those injured were rescuers trying to help, dragging a mattress out for people to jump on. "It is fantastic that people at five o'clock in the morning - that people have come to help," he added. "But that has increased the number of casualties which has presented a further issue for the ambulance service and hospital."

North West Ambulance Service confirmed it was called at 5.07am and sent a "large resource team" to the scene. She confirmed that one patient was taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, another to Wythenshawe Hospital and others to Tameside Hospital.

Greater Manchester Police officers were also in attendance.

Curzon Road, Whiteacre Road and Clinton Street were all closed and people were asked to avoid the area if possible.