A four-year-old girl is believed to have died after a house collapsed in an explosion in Thornton Heath. The child was pronounced dead at the scene while three people were taken to hospital after the explosion at a property in Galpin’s Road on Monday morning. Merton council leader Ross Garrod said the community had been “torn apart by tragedy”. “We will continue to stand together and continue to do everything we can to support those affected,” he said. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said a terraced house collapsed and neighboring properties were damaged.
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The child found dead is believed to be a four-year-old girl, the Metropolitan Police said. “Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers,” a statement said on Monday afternoon. “The investigation into the cause of the incident, together with LFB colleagues, remains ongoing. There will be road closures around the scene while work continues.” Engineers from natural gas distribution company SGN are helping with the investigation. Speaking at the scene, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Welch said thoughts are with family, friends and the local community. “The welfare of everyone involved in this incident is very important to us and our staff will be offered counseling as a priority.” London Fire Brigade Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Welch on the scene / PA Mr Welch said no further inquiries were made into anyone else. 40 properties have been evacuated due to the “significant” blast area and crews will remain on scene overnight for public safety. Mr Garrod said the child’s death was “devastating”. More than 100 residents have been supported by the local authority in an evacuation center at the New Horizon Center in Pollards Hill. Food, shelter, water, medicine and washing facilities have been offered, alongside financial assistance as needed. PA “Council housing officers, social workers and other staff are now working from the center to make sure all our residents are as comfortable as possible and all their needs are met, including food and shopping vouchers,” she said. Mr. Garrod. NHS workers are also on site. “We have also arranged for the transport of elderly and disabled residents who have been unable to leave their properties and are arranging for home facilities where necessary. “Emergency services will be working on site in Galpin’s Road for the foreseeable future: our main pressing concern now is to provide accommodation and all the essential services they need.” Mr Garrod said staff had been “overwhelmed by the kindness shown by residents and local groups”. Members of the Urban Search and Rescue team at the scene / PA Medium Residents at the scene had previously raised concerns about a missing child, believing a woman and four children had lived in the collapsed house. Many also reported a strong smell of gas in the area, which lingered for about two weeks, but the London Fire Brigade said it could not confirm whether gas caused the explosion. Residents said gas engineers were working on the road but had not been seen for a few days. Galpin’s Road residents Delroy Simms, 62, and Kutoya Kukanda, 50, were described as ‘heroes’ after they rescued three children from the house moments after the blast. Mr Sims, dressed in his pajamas next to the cordon, said: “I was getting ready to go to work when I heard the explosion. “I already knew what it was because the gas smelled all week, really strong. It was giving me a headache yesterday. “My neighbor has been calling them (gas engineers) all week.” Residents Delroy Simms, 62, (left) and Kutoya Kukanda, 50 / PA “When I heard the explosion it was like an earthquake. It shook me and my house. The shutters on our windows were blown off their hinges. “I went to the window and saw the destruction.” Mr Simms said Mr Kukanda gave him children as bricks continued to fall from the structure. Mr Kukanda, who had a bruise on his shin from a falling brick, told PA: “I heard a boom and then I opened the door. “I saw smoke, the house had collapsed and people were screaming inside. I went in and took the first baby – it was three children. “I picked up one of the kids, gave it to him (Mr Sims). The mother was screaming and saying, ‘One of my daughters is still in there’. Everything was falling.”
