Update: Thornton Heath house explosion hospitalises three people

Three people have been taken to hospital following a house explosion in Thornton Heath.

Emergency services rushed to a house in Galpin’s Road following a fire and explosion at around 7am today.

The London Ambulance Service said it had treated four patients.

One was discharged on the scene and three others were taken to hospital, where they remain.

In a statement, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed four people had been rescued from the rubble.

A terraced house collapsed and neighbouring properties were also damaged.

Neighbours said they were woken by the blast.

One neighbour, who lives two doors down and across the road from the house that exploded, said: “It sounded a bit muffled because I was still asleep.”

The neighbour only wanted to be identified by their Twitter handle @Dburch01.

They said: “Everyone else in the house wondering what was going on. It took the fire brigade about eight minutes to get there after I woke up.

“Honestly, I’m a bit stunned because this is one of the first instances of something like this happening. As for the house, I’m not sure, don’t really know the occupants that well. I’m feeling a bit mixed up.”

LFB said six fire engines and 40 firefighters had been called to the scene after they received 13 calls about the incident.

In a statement the brigade said: “The brigade was called at 7.08am. Fire crews from Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

“The cause of the fire and explosion is not known at this time.”

The London Ambulance Service said it had “a number of resources on the scene”.

Metropolitan Police officers confirmed they are at the scene.

Pictured top: The destroyed house in Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath (Picture: London Fire Brigade)