Woman, 61, who was killed in explosion that destroyed house in Greater Manchester ‘was on a video call with her friends

• Officers called to Summerseat, Gtr Manchester, around 9.30pm on Wednesday 
• Woman, 61, pronounced dead at scene and another woman and child injured 
• Neighbours report victim was on a video call to friends when the explosion hit 
• Five properties in East View were by evacuated by fire service as  aprecaution

A woman found dead after an explosion razed a house in Greater Manchester was killed ‘while on a Zoom call with her friends’.   

Emergency crews were called to the collapsed home in Summerseat, Greater Manchester, just before 9.30pm on Wednesday and found the body of the 61-year-old shortly after.

A neighbour, 36, said the woman had been killed while on a video call in her living room. 

Kerry Crompton told The Sun: ‘It is so sad about the lady. I used to see her walking her dog. I’ve been told that, at the time, she was in the living room on a video call to her friends. That must have been horrific for those people.’

The mum-of-two pulled her neighbour, named as Stephanie, her daughter Evie and dog Besti from the wreckage of the explosion, which damaged several houses.

She said: ‘They were both absolute black. Stephanie was screaming. I just grabbed them and got them out. The little girl was hysterical.’ 

Emergency crews were called to the collapsed home in Summerseat, Greater Manchester, just before 9.30pm on Wednesday

The body of a 61-year-old woman was pulled from the rubble a short time later. Neighbours report she was on a video call to her friends at the time of the explosion 

The house was razed to the ground by the blast, which also injured several other people including a neighbour and her child

Thirty homes around in East View, Summerseat, were evacuated as a precaution and three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries

Greater Manchester Police confirmed yesterday that a woman was pronounced dead at the scene and another woman and child were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Thirty homes around in East View, Summerseat, were evacuated as a precaution and three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Search and rescue dogs were also deployed to the scene as fire crews set about extinguishing the last of the flames.

Cadent gas officials could be seen assessing the scene, with a strong smell of gas reported in the area. 

Forensic officers were also spotted searching the area, with a forensic tent stationed nearby to the scene. 

Aerial photos lay bare the damage inflicted on the terraced property that sits below a railway line.

Aerial photos show the devastattion the blast caused, with debris strewn across the gardens of numerous properties 

Five properties in East View, Summerseat, were evacuated as a precaution and three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries 

Reports suggest a gas leak could have caused the explosion as police revealed pipes were being checked at midnight on Wednesday

The blast ripped through the walls and roof, revealing the gutted interior. Debris was flung as far as the road and littered the front garden.  

Chief Inspector Jamie Collins said: ‘We believe we know who she is based on this address and initial enquiries.’

He said 30 surrounding houses were initially evacuated but all residents apart from those living on the same road as the collapsed house had been allowed back into their properties.

He added: ‘We are keeping an open mind in regards to the circumstances of this incident and inquiries are ongoing.’ 

An investigation with the fire service, Cadent gas and local authority partners was under way and the gas supply had been isolated, he said.

Steve Wilcock, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said crews would remain at the scene for the next couple of days and were working to get people back into their homes.

But, he said they were taking a cautious approach and a cordon remained in place. He said firefighters arrived at the scene quickly on Wednesday night.

He added: ‘Firefighters have worked throughout the night. The weather hasn’t been too kind to us but they’ve done a brilliant job.’ 

File photo of the house in East View before the explosion ripped through the building and gutted the interior

The blast has ripped through the walls and roof, revealing the gutted interior. Debris has been flung as far as the road and litters the front garden

Aerial photos lay bare the damage inflicted on the terraced property that sits below a railway line

Speaking near the scene of the collapsed house, Mr Wilcock said: ‘Crews responded [on Wednesday] night to reports of a collapsed property in Summerseat and reports of casualties.

‘We attended and quickly located one female who unfortunately has been declared dead.

‘At this tragic time we just want to offer our condolences to the family and friends involved.

‘Summerseat is a very, very close-knit community. It was evident last night and certainly today that community’s come together to support each other.’

James Daly, the area’s MP, this morning said it had been a ‘traumatic evening’ for the community and urged anyone in need of help to contact his office. 

One resident who lived five minutes from the blast claimed his blinds moved at the time of the building’s collapse. 

He wrote on Twitter last night: ‘I was sat watching TV but neither of us heard anything. Strangely, the blinds moved though, as if the window was open. The pictures look awful.’ 

Residents are evacuated from their homes over fears of a gas leak in Greater Manchester

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