Boy, 7, dies and six injured as house explosion destroys homes in Benwell area of Newcastle
ITV Tyne Tees reporter Julia Barthram was at the scene of the house explosion which claimed the life of a young boy, injured six others and reduced homes to rubble
A seven-year-old boy has died in a house explosion in Newcastle which injured six others and destroyed several homes.
Northumbria Police are investigating the blast which happened in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city, shortly before 12:45am on Wednesday (16 October).
The force has confirmed a seven-year-old boy died at the scene, while six other people - including one child - were taken to hospital with "varying injuries". A number of people have also been evacuated from their homes.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Superintendent Adams said it had been a “truly devastating outcome”.
He said: "I have no doubt that the community of Elswick and Benwell and our wider our region will want to join me in extending their thoughts condolences to family and friends.
"The loss and pain they must suffering is unimaginable. The boy's loved ones are being supported by specially trained officers."
Mobile phone footage from Baban Muhammad Saeid shows the fire at its height
Nearby neighbour Anthony Usher told ITV Tyne Tees how he desperately tried to save his friend's family in the immediate aftermath of the blast.
Recalling the blast, he said it was "like a bomb went off", adding: "About 20 past one in the morning, I just heard a massive explosion.
"Obviously I came running out of the front door, along to my friend's house and I've seen his house just total rubble and I was just screaming for him.
Superintendent Darren Adams speaks at the scene of the blast
"I seen my friend pop out and obviously his partner was still stuck in the rubble with the new born and obviously I managed to pull her out with the new born.
"[I was] climbing over everything, trying to dig through the rubble really but the flames, the flames and all the rubble was everywhere, it was just absolute carnage."
Distressed by what he had witnessed, he said: "It's gonna take us a long time to get over it."
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay, from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters were called to the street at 12.42am on Wednesday.
She said crews attended within five minutes and she confirmed that all the fires are now out.
Ms McVay said eight fire engines were at the incident, at its height, plus specialist units, including the urban search and rescue team.
She said this team, including dogs, remains at the scene.
Ms McVay said: “At this stage, our priority continues to be the ongoing search of the premises and to ensure the safety of nearby residents, and all of our operational crews.”
Drone pictures from above the street showed the extent of the damage, with roofs collapsed and firefighters working among the rubble.
Six flats are badly affected with two flats bearing the brunt of the explosion.
Northumbria Police said officers and other emergency services will remain at the scene while road closures are in place on Buddle Road and the surrounding area.
Motorists and residents were advised to avoid the area and to keep doors and windows closed if they see and smell smoke.
Homes around the area were evacuated and a local community centre, Murton Lodge, opened to take people in through the night.
Among those helping out was a retired nurse who told ITV Tyne Tees: "I just grabbed some blankets...picked up some first-aid kits thinking some people might need some help."
Emergency services said their main priority on Wednesday was to make sure there was nobody else inside any of the properties and to ensure the safety of neighbouring homes.
Bulldozers were moving in on Wednesday night to begin to clear the debris.
Anyone with information which might assist the investigation should do so via Northumbria Police's public portal here.
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