Major incident as one missing and three in hospital following suspected gas explosion in Swansea

One person is missing and three have been taken to hospital after a suspected gas explosion in Swansea.

Swansea police confirmed that emergency services were responding to the incident on the junction of Field Close and Clydach Road in Morriston.

The force asked motorists and members of the public to avoid the area, and a major incident was declared around midday.

People in the area reported hearing a “loud blast” at around midday on Monday, with one image on social media showing a collapsed house and another badly damaged, with debris strewn into the street.

South Wales Police said other neighbouring properties were also damaged by the blast, which shook houses miles from the scene.

Donn and Donna Fernandez who live next door to the explosion told the PA news agency how they and other neighbours rescued a teenage occupant of the house who was taken to hospital.

⚠️Major Incident declared⚠️ as @ midday 13/03/23

A major incident has been declared after a suspected gas explosion in Morriston. Emergency teams are responding.
It is not known at this time if there are any injuries or fatalities. Further updates to follow pic.twitter.com/QdE5V7Ikbe
— Rob Stewart (@Cllr_robstewart) March 13, 2023

Mr Fernandez said: “I came out of my house and saw the young teenager who lives next door in the wreckage of the house near the roof.

“Me and our neighbours got him out, he’s only about 13.

“They’re a lovely family, a family of three.

“We just can’t believe this has happened.”

A police officer at the scene would not permit residents to go past the cordon, saying: “We’re still not out of the woods with the gas. We’re not safe from another explosion.”

An emergency centre for residents has been set up in Morriston Memorial Hall, a nearby community centre.

Swansea Council leader Cllr Rob Stewart said: “My thoughts are with the residents at this moment from what looks like an extremely serious incident, as we try and establish if everyone is safe.

“Our teams are on site and working with the emergency services.”

In a statement, Wales and West Utilities, which maintains the gas network across Wales and the south-west of England, said: “We were called to reports of an explosion at a property in the Clydach Road area of Swansea and immediately sent a team of engineers.

“On arrival, we found that there had been severe structural damage to the property and the emergency services were in control of the scene.

“We are now working with them to make the area safe – as we do on all incidents of this nature.

“We do not yet know the cause of the explosion and our engineers will continue to support the emergency services as they carry out their work.”