Fire crews have spent overnight at the scene of an explosion which tore through a block of flats yesterday evening. Emergency services rushed to the scene at Tanfields in Skelmersdale around 6pm yesterday (Tuesday) following reports of a gas explosion at the site.
Once at the scene, emergency services found the block of flats completely blown apart. Five people were inside the flats when the incident happened.
All five were assessed and treated by paramedics at the scene and three were later taken to hospital as a precaution. Lancashire Fire Service have now confirmed that no one was seriously injured during the incident.
READ MORE: Picture shows explosion damage to Skelmersdale flats as walls blown apart and sofa falls out of home
A total of 15 people were evacuated from their homes overnight following the explosion. Pictures from the scene sent to the ECHO show walls torn off the back of the flats as well as a fridge freezer and a two seater sofa hanging from the wreckage.
One eyewitness who lives behind the flats said they heard a ‘loud bang’ that ‘shook the windows’ at around 6pm on Tuesday. They said: “I was just sat in my house when I heard this loud bang, it shook the windows. I didn’t think anything of it and then I started hearing sirens and a helicopter.
"I looked out my window and saw loads of blue lights flashing. I went out the back of my house and saw the back wall of the flats had exploded."
“Then police started taping off the road.” Four fire engines from Skelmersdale, Ormskirk and Bamber Bridge were called to deal with the explosion.
In a statement issued during the early hours, a spokesman for the service said: "Crews will remain on scene overnight. Firefighters evacuated approx 15 people in surrounding properties for safety precautions.
"There were no serious injuries at this incident. A multi-agency investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion."
