A major incident has been declared in Nottinghamshire following a gas explosion that caused a house to collapse in Worksop. The explosion occurred just after 7:30 PM on Saturday at a property on John Street. In response to the incident, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) mobilized emergency teams, and the area has seen a substantial presence of emergency services.
The explosion caused significant damage, with the affected house being partially destroyed and neighboring properties also sustaining damage. Multiple homes in the vicinity of John Street have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Nearby, the Crown Place Community Centre has been set up as a shelter, where approximately 20 people sought refuge from the ongoing situation. Many evacuees expressed frustration at not being able to return to their homes, according to Sky News reporter James Evans-Jones, who was on the scene.
Social media posts showed dramatic footage of the blast’s aftermath, with one video capturing the front of a terraced house blown out and its roof collapsed. Windows of neighboring houses were also reported to have been damaged. Emergency teams remained on-site late into the night, working to secure the area and investigate the cause of the explosion.
The explosion prompted an immediate response from NFRS, who declared the situation a major incident at around 8 PM. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes, and authorities indicated that they would be maintaining a presence through the night and into the following morning. Police forces, led by Chief Inspector Neil Humphris, confirmed that they would also continue to monitor the area as part of the investigation into the incident.
Witnesses in the area described hearing a loud bang, likening it to the sound of a firework. One resident recalled thinking the rear of their car had exploded as they turned onto Gladstone Street from Gateford Road. The force of the blast led to the destruction of the house, with residents in nearby homes being left shaken by the event.
In addition to the explosion on John Street, a separate industrial fire broke out shortly afterward on Holgate Road in The Meadows, Nottingham, although the authorities have stated that the two incidents are unrelated. For this fire, which involved ten fire engines, the damage to the building was significant, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. NFRS confirmed that the fire was under control by around 10:30 PM and began scaling down its operations.
Leigh Holmes, a group manager for NFRS, indicated that they would start to relax the cordon in place around the affected area as they worked to bring the situation under control. The authorities are continuing their investigation into both incidents, ensuring the safety of those affected and working to determine the cause of the explosion.
