LEICESTER: Rescuers on Monday pulled another body from the wreckage of a building fire in the central English city of Leicester, bringing the death toll to five, with five more people still in hospital. (Partly reported in Monday issue).

An explosion on Sunday evening caused a blaze to rip through a shop and two-storey flat above it, in an incident police said was not related to terrorism.

After initially confirming a toll of four, a police spokesman said: “Sadly, in the last few hours, the number of people found dead in the collapsed building has risen to five.” The number of people being treated in hospital also rose from four to five, one of whom remains in a critical condition.

Police said there were still some people unaccounted for, but rescue efforts had to be suspended at one point due to concerns about the structural integrity of a neighbouring building.

“It may be some days yet before we will be able to establish the probable cause of the explosion,” added Matt Cane, group manager from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

Neighbours reported that their own homes shook with the force of the blast, which occurred shortly after 7pm on Sunday.

Firefighters worked through the night to control the blaze, but by early on Monday afternoon, it was still not extinguished.

“There are still pockets of fire in the basement area of the building,” Cane said in a statement.

“We have a significant number of specialist search and rescue teams who are supported by two search dogs, and this level of resourcing is likely to be in place throughout the day.” Electricity to a number of homes nearby was affected, but no properties were evacuated overnight.

Pictures and videos posted on social media showed a property engulfed in flames, with rubble and debris scattered around. “It was very scary,” local resident Graeme Hudson said.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2018