Aseven-year-old kid was killed and six others were injured in a horrific explosion that occurred early this morning in Newcastle’s Benwell and Elswick neighborhood, according to Northumbria Police.
Emergency services responded quickly to the unfortunate occurrence, which happened just before 1:00 am. Many witnesses hurried outdoors to evaluate the damage after hearing a loud blast followed by a dazzling flare. According to a local resident who spoke:
“I thought it was an explosion when there was a large flash.” I initially thought there might have been a vehicle collision. However, as soon as the fragrance hit, I woke up my family. It was obvious that something horrible had occurred when we dashed outside. The fact that there are so many families and kids in this region is a huge shock.
The depth of the damage was shown by drone footage, which showed six apartments seriously damaged and one house completely demolished. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said that the explosion was concentrated in two of the apartments.
A police cordon is anticipated to stay in place for the foreseeable future while firefighters and emergency personnel continue to search through the debris. At a press conference, Northumbria Police Superintendent Darren Adams spoke to the public and described the incident as “a truly devastating outcome.”
“I stand here today with deep sorrow to confirm the untimely loss of a small kid. The event in the early hours of this morning has tragically resulted in the death of a seven-year-old boy. During this extremely trying time, our prayers are with his family and all those impacted,” Superintendent Adams said.
After the explosion, six people were transported to the hospital. They have not yet revealed the full degree of their injuries. On the advice of the local Fire and Rescue Service, a number of residents have been evacuated from neighboring properties as a precaution.
Two apartments have been completely demolished, while six have been severely damaged. “The scene is still very dangerous,” McVay continued.
The reason of the explosion is still being investigated, and investigators are making every effort to ascertain what caused this catastrophe.
The incident has left the close-knit community in shock. One of the victims’ family friends called the scene “heartbreaking,” adding that the blast caused a large fire that made the damage even worse.
As neighbors provide food, clothing, and shelter to those displaced, locals have started organizing support for the impacted families.
