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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Cathy Owen

Everything we know about explosion that destroyed Swansea house

A man has died and others have been injured in what police in Swansea have described as a "major incident" which saw an explosion completely destroy one house and cause extensive damage to another.

Around 50 local residents who have been asked to leave their homes as a precaution are being looked after at a local community rest centre.

A investigation into the cause of the explosion, that was heard as faraway as Cimla, is now underway. You can follow live updates from the scene here.

Here is what we know so far:

A body of a man has been found at the scene of the explosion

Police confirmed on Monday evening that a man has died as a result of the explosion.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "We can confirm that a body has been recovered from the scene of an explosion which happened at Clydach Road in Morriston at 11.20am this morning. A search of the scene discovered the body of a man who was previously unaccounted for. His family has been informed. An investigation will now get underway to establish the cause of the incident. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed."

Three other people were taken to hospital from the scene of the explosion. The extent of their injuries is not yet known.

Emergency services first called on Monday morning

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

A statement from Mid and West Wales Fire Service said they were called a 11.20am on Monday, March 13, to "several reports of a gas explosion".

Crews from Morriston, Swansea West, Neath, Gorseinon and Port Talbot attended.

A statement added: "As well as Fire and Rescue Service Crews, South Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service are in attendance. South Wales Police have declared a major incident, no further information is available at this time. "

At 11.43am South Wales Police issued a statement saying: "Emergency services are responding to an incident on the junction of Field Close and Clydach Road in Morriston. Please avoid the area whilst we deal with the incident."

At 2pm there was still a large emergency service presence at the scene.

What has caused the explosion

(Dimitris Legakis/Athena Pictures)

The fire service said they received reports of a "gas explosion" but the cause is still very much under investigation.

Gas engineers are on site working out what has happened and making sure the area is safe.

On Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for Wales & West Utilities said: “We were called to reports of an explosion at a property in the Clydach Road area of Swansea this morning (13 March) and immediately sent a team of engineers.

“On arrival, we found that there had been severe structural damage to the property and the emergency services were in control of the scene. We are now working with them to make the area safe – as we do on all incidents of this nature.

“We do not yet know the cause of the explosion and our engineers will continue to support the emergency services as they carry out their work.”

What eyewitnesses have said

One neighbour has described hearing an "horrendous" noise and thought it was crash. Leanne Lewis, who was visiting her mother Margarie, said she ran outside when she heard the explosion and "saw all the debris".

"There was dust rubble, and the glass in the windows next to the house were all blown. The noise was just horrendous and I thought there had been a big crash," she said.

It has been reported that two people were pulled from one of the properties. She said that between four and five houses had been damaged in the blast. Mo Green, 70, who lives opposite the house that was impacted, was out when the incident happened but a neighbour called her to get back straight away.

She is not allowed to go up to her home but has since seen a photo of it. All her windows are broken she believes and her roof and car is damaged.

Local community coming together

Emergency services at the scene of the blast (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Within hours of the explosion, offers of help were pouring for the residents affected by the blast. Swansea council has set up a rest centre at Morriston Memorial Hall for residents affected by the incident, where support is being provided for about 50 people until they’re able to return to their homes.

The local football team was one of the first groups to offer help. A statement from Morriston Town AFC said: "We are devastated to hear what has happened on Clydach Road/Field Close. We really hope everyone is okay. If there is anything we can do to help any of the local residents please do not hesitate to contact us. We have just opened the club for any residents who just want to get inside in the warmth, have free tea/coffee etc Sending all our love to all affected."

A local pub is also reported to be helping out local residents.

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