London sources have reported that the Police declared a "major incident" after the explosion occurred last evening on a stretch of road containing commercial and residential properties in Hinckley Road area of Leicester, a city with a large Gujarati origin population. Leicester is over 143 km away from London. According to sources four people were killed in the explosion and subsequent fire that destroyed a shop and the flat above it.
Previously reports said six people were taken to hospital after the Two of the injured are stated to be in critical condition. Meanwhile a fire and rescue service spokeswoman said the emergency services were conducting a search and rescue operation and it was unclear if people were trapped in the rubble.
The police said in a statement that the cause of the explosion will be the
subject of a joint investigation by the police and Leicestershire Fire and
Rescue Service. As per report the emergency services said they were called to
reports of a blast shortly after 7 pm and six fire engines were sent to the
scene. Moreover a fire service spokeswoman said the property was a two-floor
building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake
collapse".
