A man is currently hospitalized with severe injuries after an explosion leveled a house in south London on Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency teams arrived at 131 Base Line Rd. W. shortly after 1 p. m., where firefighters discovered smoke and flames engulfing what was left of the structure, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bridge stated.
The house is deemed a “total loss,” according to the London Fire Department.
Bridge mentioned that one individual was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but he couldn’t confirm if the person was inside or outside when the blast happened. The London Police later clarified in a statement that the injured party is an adult male.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
The home had been unoccupied and was checked monthly by fire crews, Bridge explained. Even though no one lived there, the natural gas service remained active. Enbridge Gas crews were present to turn off the gas and other utilities, he added.
Multiple 911 calls reported an explosion in the 100 block of Baseline Rd W. We can confirm there is a total loss of a house. Unknown injuries at this time. Fire crew are in the offensive attack. Primary search all clear. Please avoid this area. #ldnont @cityoflondon pic. twitter. com/Yg54z NSync
-Ldn Ont Fire
Emergency personnel stayed at the scene throughout Wednesday afternoon, and Base Line Road West was closed as firefighters continued their efforts. The London Fire Department is urging people to steer clear of the area.
The explosion rattled residents across from it at a nearby London Community Housing building, according to Gerald Anderson.
(Andrew Lupton/CBC)
Loveleen Gogna was working from her third-floor apartment when she heard the blast. She said her balcony screen door fell down due to it.
“I saw outside it was a big explosion and the roof of that house just blew like 40 feet up,” she said. “It was a frightening scene for me.”
She also mentioned that vehicles parked near her building suffered damage.
People living across the street noted they felt shockwaves from the blast too.
“It was like a plane landed on my roof or an explosion right above my apartment,” said Gerald Anderson, who resides in a London Community Housing building opposite.
“The house was flattened. There’s glass – stuff from across the street is all over our property.”You could see residents rushing outside to check what had occurred after hearing it.
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