Sydney, Australia – Authorities in Sydney’s west are conducting a search for a person believed to be trapped under debris from a partially collapsed townhouse following an explosion.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan after the townhouse collapsed due to the explosion around 12.50 pm. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Ross Genders stated that there is still one person believed to be under the rubble.
Genders added that rescuers have heard signs of life, such as tapping and noises, which indicate that the individual is still alive. The focus of the search is currently on the back side of the building where the most debris has accumulated.
Efforts to carefully remove the rubble piece by piece are ongoing, with the help of seismic monitoring equipment to detect any sounds coming from underneath the wreckage. The missing person was reportedly on the second level of the building when the floor collapsed during the blast.
Five individuals sustained minor injuries in the incident and were taken to hospitals for treatment. Among them were a woman in her 60s and a wheelchair-bound woman in her 70s. All five are said to be in stable condition.
Rescuers also managed to save a small dog from the debris, confirming that the animal was unharmed. Witnesses described the chaos and destruction caused by the explosion, with one resident recounting the sudden brightness followed by a loud blast that shattered windows and ceilings.
Unfortunately, it may take days to determine the cause of the explosion, with initial reports suggesting a gas leak as the possible trigger. The gas supply to the area has since been cut off, minimizing the risk of further incidents.
Fire and Rescue NSW emphasized that the danger has been contained to the collapse site, deploying numerous units to ensure safety and conduct thorough assessments. Authorities urge the public to avoid the area, with local traffic diversions in place to facilitate emergency operations.