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| Boy, 7, dies and six injured in Benwell house explosion | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard a "very loud bang" and saw a "bright flash" | Eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard a "very loud bang" and saw a "bright flash" |
| A seven-year-old boy has died and six people have been taken to hospital following an explosion which destroyed three houses. | A seven-year-old boy has died and six people have been taken to hospital following an explosion which destroyed three houses. |
| Emergency crews were called to Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, at about 00:45 BST. | Emergency crews were called to Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, at about 00:45 BST. |
| Police, who have now enforced a no-fly zone in the area, said the boy's death was "truly devastating". | Police, who have now enforced a no-fly zone in the area, said the boy's death was "truly devastating". |
| Eyewitnesses described a "very loud bang" and a "bright flash", with some residents then told to leave their homes and go to a rest centre run by Red Cross volunteers. | Eyewitnesses described a "very loud bang" and a "bright flash", with some residents then told to leave their homes and go to a rest centre run by Red Cross volunteers. |
| Three houses along the terrace were completely destroyed and several cars badly damaged. | Three houses along the terrace were completely destroyed and several cars badly damaged. |
| The area was littered with piles of debris and a heavy smell of smoke lingers. | The area was littered with piles of debris and a heavy smell of smoke lingers. |
| Firefighters and search dogs have been combing the wreckage and Northern Gas Networks said its engineers had been at the scene. | Firefighters and search dogs have been combing the wreckage and Northern Gas Networks said its engineers had been at the scene. |
| An investigation is under way into how the explosion happened. | An investigation is under way into how the explosion happened. |
| Police say the seven-year-old boy died at the scene | Police say the seven-year-old boy died at the scene |
| Supt Darren Adams from Northumbria Police said the seven-year-old boy died at the scene. | Supt Darren Adams from Northumbria Police said the seven-year-old boy died at the scene. |
| “This is a truly devastating outcome,” he said. | “This is a truly devastating outcome,” he said. |
| "I have no doubt the people of Elswick and Benwell and our wider region will join me in extending their condolences to family and friends." | "I have no doubt the people of Elswick and Benwell and our wider region will join me in extending their condolences to family and friends." |
| He also said a no-fly zone measuring 200m (656ft) around the seat of the explosion had been put in place. | He also said a no-fly zone measuring 200m (656ft) around the seat of the explosion had been put in place. |
| Emergency crews described it as a "large scale incident" | Emergency crews described it as a "large scale incident" |
| One eyewitness told BBC Radio Newcastle: "There was a big flash and I was thinking 'it's an explosion' and then after that I was thinking 'is it a car or something?' | One eyewitness told BBC Radio Newcastle: "There was a big flash and I was thinking 'it's an explosion' and then after that I was thinking 'is it a car or something?' |
| "But after that there was the smell and I woke up my family and we went outside. | "But after that there was the smell and I woke up my family and we went outside. |
| "It's a massive shock. In this area there are many children, many families." | "It's a massive shock. In this area there are many children, many families." |
| An evacuation centre was set up nearby and the Red Cross has been giving out mobile phone chargers and food. | An evacuation centre was set up nearby and the Red Cross has been giving out mobile phone chargers and food. |
| The West End Women and Girls Centre said anyone who had been evacuated from their home was welcome to stay at the centre for food, drinks or warmth. | The West End Women and Girls Centre said anyone who had been evacuated from their home was welcome to stay at the centre for food, drinks or warmth. |
| Roads have been closed and people have been told to avoid the area | Roads have been closed and people have been told to avoid the area |
| Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue confirmed all fires had been extinguished. | Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue confirmed all fires had been extinguished. |
| Assistant chief fire officer Lynsey McVay said: “Six flats were badly affected, two of which suffered the main brunt of the explosion. | Assistant chief fire officer Lynsey McVay said: “Six flats were badly affected, two of which suffered the main brunt of the explosion. |
| "We continue to search the buildings and our specialist dog unit remains on scene." | "We continue to search the buildings and our specialist dog unit remains on scene." |
| Residents said many families lived in houses around the area | Residents said many families lived in houses around the area |
| Newcastle City Council asked people to avoid the area and told those living nearby to stay indoors and keep windows closed. | Newcastle City Council asked people to avoid the area and told those living nearby to stay indoors and keep windows closed. |
| It also confirmed the house was a council-maintained property. | It also confirmed the house was a council-maintained property. |
| Leader Karen Kilgour said housing officers had been on site to support residents, some of whom were being moved into temporary hotel accommodation. | Leader Karen Kilgour said housing officers had been on site to support residents, some of whom were being moved into temporary hotel accommodation. |
| "The safety of residents remains our absolute priority and we will continue to provide assistance in any way we can," she said. | "The safety of residents remains our absolute priority and we will continue to provide assistance in any way we can," she said. |
| Additional reporting by Jonny Manning, Rebecca O'Neill, Peter Harris and Jo Lonsdale. | Additional reporting by Jonny Manning, Rebecca O'Neill, Peter Harris and Jo Lonsdale. |
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