Shocked neighbours have told of their anguish after a house 'explosion' on a Scots street on Saturday afternoon as they described the area as being like a "disaster zone".
Emergency services descended on Broomage Crescent, Larbert, around 1.40pm as heavy black smoke billowed from a residential property following a huge blast.
One man was rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary after the incident but his current condition is unknown.
There are no other casualties.
Residents in the street were quickly evacuated as people were urged to avoid the area for their safety and to give emergency services access to the street.
Residents who lived nearby were also urged to keep their windows closed.
A major emergency response was sparked by the 'explosion' with the road remaining cordoned off as fire crews, police officers and engineers work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Veronica Penman, 55, lives next door to the affected home and told the Record: “It’s a disaster zone, it’s really really bad. I’ve not seen anything like it before.
“My house has been damaged quite badly, mostly by smoke.
“The fire service have been in and assessed it, but they said they’d need to do that again once they’ve made the house that’s exploded safe.
“I don’t know when I’ll get back into my house because there could be structural damage.
“I’ve been told by the police that it definitely won’t be tonight because the area is still unsafe.
“I just hope everyone is okay, it’s a family that live there and they have kids."
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, described the horrific scene and said they almost fainted.
They said: “It’s just terrible, that poor family. I don’t know them really, but see them and the kids regularly.
“I thought the bang was coming from my telly because I was watching the news, but then I heard people shouting outside.
“When I looked out I almost fainted, I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“The flames were something else, you could actually feel the heat from them halfway up the street.
“I quickly grabbed everything and ran out the door I didn’t know what was going on.”
A third neighbour added: “My wife called me in a massive panic to tell me.
“I was out in the town. All she said was that the house next door had exploded and that she was ok.
“I rushed home right away.
“She said she seen the young chap being taken away by paramedics, he was laying in the garden.
“We won’t be getting back in our house tonight because it’s not safe and damaged with smoke.”
A large police cordon remains in place following the incident near Falkirk as residents evacuated from their homes have no idea when they will be able to return.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue service has six appliances and specialist resources at the scene as crews work to get the blaze under control at the property which has partially collapsed.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 1.40pm on Saturday, 26 February, police were called to reports of an explosion at a property on Broomage Crescent, Larbert.
"Emergency services are at the scene and a number of nearby buildings have been evacuated.
"One man has been taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary by ambulance for treatment.
"We would advise people to avoid the area at this time for their own safety and to allow enquiries to continue.
“Those living nearby are asked to keep their doors and windows closed.”
SGN engineers also joined the emergency services and rescue teams at the scene around 2.30pm.
A spokesperson for SGN said: "Following reports of an incident in Broomage Crescent, Larbert, earlier today, our engineers joined the emergency services on site at 2.28pm.
"We're continuing to work closely with the authorities."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service added: "We received a call at 13:43 to attend an incident on Broomage Crescent, Larbert.
"A range of resources were sent to the scene and a patient was transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary."
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