At least one person has died and three others have been rushed to hospital after a gas explosion caused an “inferno” to tear through a block of flats in Bedford, police said.
It is possible more deaths will be discovered in the coming days as emergency services continue to search the scene, Bedfordshire Police chief superintendent John Murphy added.
Two people were seriously injured, while a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation after the firec at the block of flats in Redwood Grove.
East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) also said there had been three hospital admissions, one of whom was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with leg injuries.
“Very sadly we know that at least one person has passed away in the explosion today,” Mr Murphy said.
“There is a possibility that there will be more fatalities discovered in the coming days as we continue to search through the scene and a number of people, as my colleague from the fire services has identified, were injured as well today.”
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service earlier described the blaze as a “major incident”, while a local resident said they saw one person leap from a second-floor window to escape the burning building.
Adam Fisher, a 37-year-old sales worker whose office is nearby, said he heard a “huge explosion” before witnessing “an inferno” at the site and people screaming.
“A huge explosion heard – everyone went to our work car park to see what was happening,” he told the PA news agency.
“Our building is adjacent to the apartment complex – immediately an inferno (was) visible, huge smoke cloud billowing, people screaming and people frantically calling for emergency services.”
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they saw a person jumping from a second-floor window to escape the blaze.
“I heard the explosion from my house round the corner,” she told PA.
“I walked to town and saw the flames and also witnessed someone jump from the second-floor window while flames were blaring out.”
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People watch the scene of a fire at Redwood Grove following a gas explosion
