At Least Four Injured As Explosion Rips Through Flat In Garratt Lane, Earlsfield

31 July 2019, 09:10 | Updated: 31 July 2019, 14:52

Emergency services rushed to a block of flats in Earlsfield after reports of an explosion which appeared to blow out the walls of a flat.

Two men, one of them elderly, have been taken to hospital following a gas explosion at a block of flats in south-west London.

At least four people have been injured after this morning's blast, which damaged a wall, in Earlsfield.

A cordon has been put in place and drivers are being told to avoid the area as emergency crews get to work.

LBC's reporter Rachael Venables was at the scene and spoke to residents of Garratt Lane who said they heard "a huge explosion rock the building."

She said one man inside the building was rescued by firefighters and is now in hospital, and a second man in the adjacent flat escaped and is now being treated in hospital.

She described the "gaping holes" on two sides of the building and said you can also see "the remains of a wardrobe with clothes still hanging up".

She reported that according to firefighters the building is still safe.

Metropolitan Police Sergeant John Nicolaou said: "At this stage we believe up to three people have been injured as a result of what is believed to be a gas explosion.

"We await a full update on their condition.

"The Health and Safety Executive will be informed in due course and the Gas Board are at the scene now."

A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade said: "Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters have been called to a suspected gas explosion on Garratt Lane in Wandsworth.

"A ground-floor flat in a three-storey block has been affected. A 25-metre cordon is in place as a precaution.

"Firefighters rescued one man from the affected flat. He has been taken to hospital. A man from an adjacent flat left before the brigade arrived and has also been taken to hospital."