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Father and daughter pulled from rubble after gas explosion

A father and daughter have been pulled from the debris after a suspected gas explosion reduced their home in Shirley, Hampshire to rubble in the early hours of this morning.

Live updates

We report from scene of gas explosion

Neighbours have been describing the moment they pulled a four-year-old girl and her father alive from the remains of their home - moments after it was completely destroyed in a gas explosion. Fred and Sangeeta linked to Kerry Swain, who reported live from the scene.

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Dramatic video and interviews after gas explosion

How did anyone escape alive? Fire crews pictured at the debris in Shirley, Southampton. A gas explosion destroyed the house. We have interviews with people who heard the blast and saw the aftermath.

Statement from gas company after explosion

Following reports of an explosion in the Howards Grove area of Southampton, our engineers joined the emergency services on site in the early hours of this morning.

We understand a 36-year-old man and four-year-old girl who were in the house at the time have been treated at the local hospital. Our thoughts are with them and their family.

While it is too early to speculate as to what has happened, we are working closely with the authorities to help discover the cause. Engineers have made safe the gas supply at the premises and carried out safety checks in the local area. An exclusion zone remains in place while an investigation gets under way. Neighbouring properties were evacuated earlier and we are working with the local council to ensure the appropriate alternative arrangements are made for those affected.

– SGN

Gas company statement on explosion

"Following reports of an explosion in the Howards Grove area of Southampton, our engineers joined the emergency services on site in the early hours of this morning.

We understand a 36-year-old man and 4-year-old girl who were in the house at the time have been treated at the local hospital. Our thoughts are with them and their family.

While it is too early to speculate as to what has happened, we are working closely with the authorities to help discover the cause. Engineers have made safe the gas supply at the premises and carried out safety checks in the local area. An exclusion zone remains in place while an investigation gets under way. Neighbouring properties were evacuated earlier and we are working with the local council to ensure the appropriate alternative arrangements are made for those affected."

– SGN Gas

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House flattened by gas explosion

The scene of devastation in Southampton Credit: Sam Holder

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Control room received around a dozen calls reporting a loud explosion in Howards Grove, Southampton, shortly after 1.30am.

Crews from St Mary's and Redbridge arrived to find the two-storey, end-of-terrace property completely collapsed.

The father and daughter were taken to hospital as a precaution but are not thought to have been seriously injured.

Daylight picture of house, destroyed by explosion

The devastated house in Southampton Credit: Sam Holder

A father and daughter have been pulled from debris after a suspected gas explosion reduced their Southampton home to rubble in the early hours of this morning.

Neighbours helped pull the 36-year-old man and a four-year-old girl from the debris, but both only suffered minor injuries.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Control room received around a dozen calls reporting a loud explosion on Howards Grove, Shirley, shortly after 1.30am.

First daylight pictures of Southampton gas explosion

First daylight pictures of the gas explosion at Shirley in Southampton, from the city's Daily Echo newspaper.

Father and daughter pulled from rubble after gas explosion destroys home

The explosion happened at 1:30 am Credit: HAMPSHIRE FIRE

A father and daughter have been pulled from debris after a suspected gas explosion reduced their home in Shirley in Hampshire to rubble in the early hours of this morning.

Neighbours helped pull the 36 year-old man and a 4 year-old girl from the debris, but both only suffered minor injuries.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Control room received around a dozen calls reporting a loud explosion on Howards Grove, Shirley, shortly after 1.30am.

Crews from St Mary's and Redbridge arrived to find the two-storey, end-of-terrace property completely collapsed.

The father and daughter were taken to hospital as a precaution but are not thought to have been seriously injured.

The other houses in the terrace were evacuated as a precaution. Engineers from the gas board and Southampton City Council were also called to further investigate the cause of the explosion.

The house was reduced to rubble Credit: HAMPSHIRE FIRE

The fact both of them escaped relatively unharmed is nothing short of a miracle. The explosion appears to have been caused by gas and reduced the whole property to rubble.

– Steve Buchanan-Lee, Station Manager
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