A MAN has been arrested after a huge explosion reduced a home in Manchester to rubble, injuring five.
Fire crews sealed off the street after the blast yesterday afternoon, with two men remaining in hospital.
One of the men – a 33-year-old in a stable condition – has been arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion to endanger life, Greater Manchester Police confirmed today.
A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service told the Manchester Evening News that one man was taken to hospital in an ambulance after the explosion just before 12.30pm yesterday.
Another was awaiting hospital treatment while there were reports of three walking wounded at the scene in Cecil Road, in Blackley.
It is understood two people were seriously injured in the blast.
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The M.E.N reports neighbours compared the loud noise to a “bomb going off”.
Images shared on social media show the home has been completely destroyed by the blast.
A fire service spokesman said: "At 1:40pm five crews from Blackley, Ashton, Central First, Broughton and Chadderton were called to a partially collapsed end terrace in Victoria Avenue, Blackley.
The whole of the first floor of the end-of-terrace building appears to have fallen, with a huge mound of rubble piled up in front of the house.
It is thought two homes have been destroyed in the blast with a third badly damaged.
The fire service spokesman added: "Crews are assessing the scene and carrying out a primary search of the area. One casualty is being treated by the road.
"An aerial unit from Stretford is on route, along with two TIUs from Ashton and Leigh, a command unit from Rochdale, a timber unit from Rochdale and a fire dog."
Detective Inspector Dave Sinclair, of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said enquiries into the explosion were ongoing.
“This was a devastating incident which has left two people in hospital with serious injuries and destroyed part of a terraced street," he said.
“Good progress is being made as we continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, but we still need to hear from anyone who believes they have any information about what happened.
“The house is now being treated as a crime scene. Given the problematic working conditions, it may be several days before we will be able to return the street to normality.
“I would like to thank the community for their continued co-operation as police, the local authority and other emergency services remain at the scene to carry on with the investigation.
“My officers will be on hand in the local area and will be updating members of the public with information as we progress this investigation.
“If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to approach and speak to my officers at the scene or contact the local neighbourhood officers.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 3101 and quote reference number 880 of 16/01/17, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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