Heywood explosion: one man rescued, 20 families evacuated

Explosion, Crown Road, High Street, Heywood

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One man has been rescued and twenty families evacuated following an explosion at a flat in Heywood. A search dog is on the scene to search the rubble.

Firefighters are at the scene of the collapsed building in Crown Road, off High Street. National Grid also at the scene as it was a suspected gas explosion. 

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) Watch Manager Bloomfield said: “The explosion blew the gable end out and brought the roof structure down.”

Officer in Charge, Station Manager Angus Robinson, said: "Our priority was making the scene safe and ensuring there was nobody trapped in the debris.

"We sent a team in to search the building.

"One man was found trapped on the first floor. He was freed by firefighters and handed into the care of paramedics.

"Once the scene was stabilised, gas detectors were used to survey each flat in the two-storey building before the Technical Response Unit and a dog searched for any further casualties."

Rochdale Council worked with the emergency services at the scene and Father Paul Daly provided assistance to displaced residents.

An investigation into cause of the explosion is under way.

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UPDATE 11.50pm

No further casualties were found during secondary searches of the collapsed building. Residents are being allowed back into their homes.

A spokesman for GMFRS said: "Thanks to local residents in the Heywood area for their patience while we dealt with the collapsed building."