Thornton Heath explosion: More homes evacuated over ‘high gas readings’ after girl killed in house collapse

Dozens more homes are being evacuated near the site of the Thornton Heath explosion due to “high gas readings”, the London Fire Brigade has said.

A four-year-old girl was killed and three other people taken to hospital after a fire and explosion destroyed a house in Galpins Road on Monday morning.

The body of the child was recovered from the rubble, and three people are still being treated with reported “life-threatening” injuries.

Yesterday, the LFB set up a 50-metre cordon around the house and 40 homes were evacuated.

However today, Tuesday August 9, dozens more residents have been evacuated from their homes and the police cordon has been extended to around 100 metres.

An LFB spokesperson told LondonWorld this was because Health and Safety Executive officials carrying out checks found “high gas readings”.

HSE has been contacted for comment.

Huge numbers of police arrived at the scene at around 12noon and began evacuating residents.

People with high-vis jackets on, with “gas” emblazoned on the back, could be seen at the scene.

It is estimated at least 30 more homes were evacuated, with some residents protesting they hadn’t had time to get any belongings.

People could be seen leaving with suitcases.

The LFB and police have not confirmed the cause of the fire, however residents have reported smelling gas before and after the explosion.

Colombia, 48, told LondonWorld: "Yesterday around 7.15am I heard a big bomb explosion and my son ran upstairs to me asking: ‘Mummy what is that?’

"It felt like my bed was lifting up it was so strong.

"I panicked and ran downstairs.

"My friend called me telling me to turn off my gas and electricity.

"We came out only to find the emergency services out on the street.

"Yesterday they said the gas is spreading and they said they can still smell gas in the area so it’s quite scary."

While Charlie Camdell, who lives four doors down from the blast, said her partner had been smelling gas for days before the blast.

The 36-year-old explained: “Every morning I get up at 5am and I start my normal routine.

“I was in the front room when the inside of our window shattered.

“My partner said ‘there’s been a gas explosion’ because she’d been smelling the gas for a few days.

“I can’t smell anything at all now.

“I have seen people maintaining it and they had dug into the road before it. For the last week or so you could really strongly smell gas.

“Someone was shouting ‘what about my child’ and they were just crying saying ‘they can’t find her body’.”

On Monday afternoon, police confirmed a four-year-old girl had died in the explosion.

The Met Police said: “London Fire Brigade attended and the body of a child, believed to be a four-year-old girl, was recovered from a building.

“Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

“An investigation into the cause of the incident, alongside colleagues from the LFB, remains ongoing.

“Road closures will remain in place around the scene while this work continues.”