Elderly woman taken to hospital with burns after explosion and large fire at flat in west London
- An elderly woman was injured in the blast at a block of flats in Chiswick
- Two men suffered smoke inhalation after rescuing her just after 3pm
- Earlier today a woman died following an explosion in Crawley, West Sussex
An elderly woman has been taken to hospital with burns after a suspected gas explosion and large fire ripped through her flat in west London.
The woman was rescued by two men who suffered from the effects of breathing in smoke after the explosion and fire in the ground floor flat in Chiswick just after 3pm.
Firefighters evacuated 40 residents from the three floor property and a structural engineer is currently inspecting the damage.
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Fiery: A still from amateur footage taken of the blast in Chiswick, west London
A woman was injured by the explosion and taken to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London
A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service confirmed that two men were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but did not go to hospital.
There were no other injuries reported.
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Three crews were sent to the scene along with the air ambulance and a hazardous area response team, she added.
London Air Ambulance earlier tweeted: 'Our advanced trauma doctor and paramedic have been dispatched to an explosion in Chiswick and are still on scene.'
A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade said a 'large fire' at a five room flat was being tackled by around 30 firefighters and the incident is ongoing.
'Initial reports suggested an explosion but we are still investigating,' the spokeswoman added.
A fire crew outside the burning flat in Chiswick, West London, posted by Twitter user Benjamin Garside
Firefighters say the fire is now under control and an investigation is now underway
Three crews were sent to the scene along with the air ambulance and a hazardous area response team
Six fire engines were sent to the residential address following the call at 2.56pm, she said.
The London Fire Brigade reported on Twitter: '30 firefighters are at the scene of a ground floor flat fire on Edensor Gardens in Chiswick. A woman has been rescued by a member of public.
'The fire in Chiswick is under control. A woman has been taken to hospital. The cause of the fire & possible explosion is under investigation.
'Around 40 people have been evacuated from the block of flats on Edensor Gardens. Structural engineer is on site assessing.'
Meanwhile, earlier today a woman died following an explosion at a house in Crawley, West Sussex. Emergency services were called to a residential street at 12.30pm.
Sussex Police said a woman in her 50s was treated by paramedics but died at the scene in Banks Road in the Pound Hill area of the town.
The air ambulance at the scene. It is believed a five room flat was the site of the blast
A spokesman for Sussex Police said that it was not yet clear what had caused the explosion but that foul play had been ruled out.
'Damage is confined to the interior of the house and no other premises are affected," said the spokesman.
'A woman aged in her 50s was taken from the house, treated by paramedics but has sadly died at the scene shortly afterwards. There was not believed to have been anyone else in the house.'
Police threw up a cordon around the danmaged house and closed nearby roads to allow emergency services access to the area and for the scene to be examined by forensic specialists.
The body of the woman, who has not yet been named, was taken to a nearby hospital mortuary where a post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out tomorrow to establish the exact cause of death.
An inquest was also expected to be opened and adjourned later in the week, to allow further inquiries into the tragedy to be completed.
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