This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53166548
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| House explosion in Seven Sisters leaves two children and adult injured | House explosion in Seven Sisters leaves two children and adult injured |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One woman and two children have been seriously injured after a house was destroyed in an explosion in south Wales. | |
| Neighbouring properties and vehicles have been damaged in the blast at Seven Sisters in Neath Port Talbot. | Neighbouring properties and vehicles have been damaged in the blast at Seven Sisters in Neath Port Talbot. |
| Fourteen properties were evacuated following the incident on Church Road. | Fourteen properties were evacuated following the incident on Church Road. |
| Both children were flown by air ambulance to Southmead Hospital, Bristol and the woman was taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea. | |
| South Wales Police said all three have suffered serious injuries. | South Wales Police said all three have suffered serious injuries. |
| A former firefighter was one of the first to get into the remains of the house and pulled the adult free. | |
| Jeff Davies said he was one of "three or four" people who scrambled to remove rubble and debris to reach those inside. | |
| "I could hear the woman screaming, I entered the property then and started moving debris out then to remove her. | |
| "I actually pulled the woman out of the property. | |
| "The house was demolished, flattened, the house wasn't safe. | |
| "You don't think of that, you just think of someone trapped in there." | |
| He said he understood the children were rescued from the front of the house. | |
| Mr Davies said there was a small fire in the house as he began freeing the trapped woman. | |
| "It is a bit surreal, I didn't stop to think about it," he added | |
| "The young lady, the mother was trapped, I could see her. | |
| "She was very brave." | |
| The rescuer said the entire community had been shocked by the explosion and have been rallying around those forced to evacuate. | |
| A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said the cause of the explosion was being investigated. | |
| "The road will remain closed overnight and diversions are being put in place. | "The road will remain closed overnight and diversions are being put in place. |
| "Around 14 properties have been evacuated and Neath Port Talbot council have opened a rest centre with full support for these residents," the police said. | "Around 14 properties have been evacuated and Neath Port Talbot council have opened a rest centre with full support for these residents," the police said. |
| Community councillor Gary James said: "We live further up in the village and all we hear is this massive bang and what happened then was a plume of dust and smoke blew up but then we were concerned personally whether people were in it." | Community councillor Gary James said: "We live further up in the village and all we hear is this massive bang and what happened then was a plume of dust and smoke blew up but then we were concerned personally whether people were in it." |
| Kirsten Alison Williams, who was visiting family nearby, said the explosion made their conservatory shake. | Kirsten Alison Williams, who was visiting family nearby, said the explosion made their conservatory shake. |
| "My father-in-law rushed up the drive and saw people running across the road," she said. | "My father-in-law rushed up the drive and saw people running across the road," she said. |
| "What shook me the most was a small, baby teddy bear was there laying on top of the car roof." | "What shook me the most was a small, baby teddy bear was there laying on top of the car roof." |
| Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the scene at 14:05 BST. | Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the scene at 14:05 BST. |
| Utility company Wales and West Utilities said it sent emergency engineers to assist. | Utility company Wales and West Utilities said it sent emergency engineers to assist. |
| "We are working with the emergency services to make the area safe and to investigate the cause of the explosion," said gas emergency service manager Sarah Burgess. | "We are working with the emergency services to make the area safe and to investigate the cause of the explosion," said gas emergency service manager Sarah Burgess. |
| Neath Port Talbot council leader Rob Jones thanked the emergency services for their swift response and said the council "stands ready to offer whatever support is required". | Neath Port Talbot council leader Rob Jones thanked the emergency services for their swift response and said the council "stands ready to offer whatever support is required". |
| "My thoughts and those of my council colleagues are with those who were injured in the explosion," he said. | "My thoughts and those of my council colleagues are with those who were injured in the explosion," he said. |
| "I know that Seven Sisters is a close-knit community, and that many will be feeling a mixture of shock and sadness at this time." | "I know that Seven Sisters is a close-knit community, and that many will be feeling a mixture of shock and sadness at this time." |