Huge explosion destroys house in Birmingham
One man has suffered life-threatening injuries.
Last updated 27th Jun 2022
A man has suffered life threatening injuries after an explosion in Birmingham.
A house has been completely destroyed and others significantly damaged following the incident on Dulwich Road, Kingstanding.
West Midlands Police were called at 8.38pm (26 June). People have reported hearing the explosion from up to 5 miles away.
Six fire crews, three ambulances, five paramedic officers and a National Inter-Agency Liaison officer are among the resources sent to the scene.
It's believed to have been a gas explosion that caused the incident.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said:
“One property has been completely destroyed with three others badly damaged. Cars have also been damaged.
“A man was helped from the property by people at the scene but had suffered very serious injuries. After assessment and treatment at the scene, he was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with the MERIT team travelling with the ambulance. His condition on arrival at hospital was described as life threatening.
“Four further men have been assessed by ambulance crews for minor conditions but have been discharged at the scene.
“Members of the Hazardous Area Response Team continue to work with specialist firefighters at the scene.”
People living in neighbouring homes have been evacuated and are being told to follow the instructions of first responders.
Dulwich Road and surrounding roads are closed and are expected to remain for some time.
West Midlands Fire say they've scaled down the number of resources at the incident, but expect to be there well into Monday.
Rick Payne, a city councillor for the ward, heard a "massive explosion" while watching television shortly after 8.30pm. He said: "I recognised that as probably most likely to be a gas explosion.
"The police are just saying that there's quite a lot of houses damaged as a result - probably up to five or six houses.
"The house itself, where the explosion occurred, has physically been destroyed.
"Houses either side have, partially,
"Then the houses further along the street have been damaged collaterally from the blast."
He added: "When you hear an explosion of any type, straight away you know that people are going to be in distress, people are going to be in shock.
"Hopefully, the community can get back to normal as quickly as possible.
"It's terrible to have something like this going on in the community because nobody wants to think of houses exploding and the damage and the potential for damage to life as well."