Man found dead following explosion and house collapse

A man has been found dead among the debris following a gas explosion at a house in Nottinghamshire.

Emergency services were called to John Street, Worksop, on Saturday evening after reports that a house had collapsed in the blast, and a major incident was declared.

Nottinghamshire Police said on Sunday afternoon that the body of a man in his 50s was later recovered in the wreckage, and although emergency services tried to save him, he died at the scene.

Firefighters from the town were joined at the scene by crews from Warsop and Mansfield, and Clowne in Derbyshire, after the incident happened at 7.39pm.

The terraced property was "partially destroyed" and neighbouring homes suffered "significant damage", Nottinghamshire Police said, with people evacuated from multiple properties.

Earlier on Sunday, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was a gas explosion and said "a number of appliances" are still at the scene.

Videos posted on social media showed the front of a terraced house blown out and the roof collapsed, while neighbouring houses suffered damage to windows.

A Facebook user reported a "huge" bang that shook the surrounding properties, while another described "a terrific bang, like a very loud firework".

Chief Inspector Clive Collings, from Nottinghamshire Police, described it as "an extremely serious incident that has led to a man's untimely death".

He said the incident "will have come as a shock to the community in Worksop" and specially trained officers are supporting the man's family, who have been told of his death.

"Anyone who may have been in the area at the time is now accounted for," he added.

Chief Inspector Collings said the cordon and road closures will probably remain in place for some time while investigations continue.

Multiple residents from in and around John Street were asked to leave, he said, and are being supported by Nottinghamshire County Council staff.

He warned people against using drones as flying a drone over or near an ongoing emergency response without permission is an offence.

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