The 'majority' of residents who were evacuated after an explosion at a house in New Mills have been able to return to their homes, the fire service said.
Neighbours in at least a dozen properties on Ollersett Avenue in the Derbyshire town, near Stockport, were evacuated as the incident unfolded yesterday morning (November 14). Emergency services, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics and the air ambulance, responded to an explosion at a bungalow.
A man - believed to be aged in his 70s - was airlifted to hospital from the scene. No further updates on his condition have been released at this stage.
READ MORE: Deeply emotional tribute to gran killed by 'idiot' Audi driver speeding 118mph in 30 zone
READ MORE: Family issue desperate plea to help bring home critically ill Rochdale dad stuck in Philippines
In an update this afternoon, the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said that the 'majority' of people who had been told to leave their homes have now been able to return. The fire service added that the 'exact cause of the explosion' is still being investigated.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, the fire service said: "Ollersett Avenue, New Mills - Update 12.30 hours.
"The majority of evacuated residents have now been allowed to return to their homes. An investigation into the exact cause of the explosion remains underway."
Eyewitnesses described yesterday how they woke to their street 'shaking' after the explosion. They said they saw a man ‘dragged out’ of the wreckage by neighbours after the blast, which left the property in pieces.
Those living on the street said the explosion ‘just missed’ a number of children walking to the nearby school. “It could’ve been a lot worse,” one commented.
Another described the roof of the house as ‘looking like it had been lifted up and plonked back down again’. “I was in my house when I felt the street shake,” one man said.
“I don’t even know what happened - it just sort of happened.”
A spokesperson for East Midlands Ambulance Service previously said: "We received a call at 8.10am today, Tuesday 14 November to a private address in New Mills, High Peak. The caller reported a medical emergency.
"We sent a paramedic in an ambulance car, two crewed ambulances and the air ambulance was also in attendance. One patient was transported to Sheffield Northern General Hospital via air ambulance."
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
