Two rescued after house destroyed in explosion in Edinburgh

It's believed to have been caused by gas

Author: Joe OdberPublished 2nd Dec 2023
Last updated 5th Dec 2023

Two people have been rescued from a house which has been reduced to rubble in Edinburgh.

Police Scotland received reports of an eruption at an address on Baberton Mains Avenue at roughly 10.25pm on Friday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances were in attendance and two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home prior to their arrival.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, some locals reported hearing the explosion as far away as Gilmerton, a suburb on the fringe of Edinburgh and miles from the blast site.

Neighbours revealed they could feel their homes shaking, while another person tweeted that they had heard the blast from inside a movie theatre in the nearby suburb of Wester Hailes.

Police Scotland said: "Around 10.25pm on Friday,1 December 2023, we were called to reports of an explosion at a property on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

"Emergency services are at the scene, and we would advise people to avoid the area at this time."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 10.26 pm on Friday 1 December to reports of a gas explosion affecting residential properties on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

"Operations control mobilised five fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters worked to make the area safe.

"Two casualties were rescued prior to our arrival, and the crews remain on scene."

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