AceBreakingNews – A delicate search and rescue operation is under way in Western Sydney for a woman trapped beneath rubble after an explosion destroyed a townhouse in a complex this afternoon.
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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Jun.02: 2024: ABC AU FRNSW News Report; TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/YouMeUs2
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Emergency services were called to Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, near Mount Druitt, just before 1pm on Saturday after reports of a loud explosion heard by residents in surrounding streets.
Two women were rescued from the collapsed home, a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s who uses a wheelchair.
They were among five people who sustained minor injuries and are in a stable condition at hospitals in St George and Hawkesbury.
Some of those affected were elderly and were short of breath due to underlying health conditions, and had “a lucky escape”, according to NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Ian Johns.
However, authorities have not been able to locate one person they say was on the second floor of the property at the time of the blast and is feared to be under the rubble.
“We have a generalised area where we’re searching for them and that’s based on the design of the building,” Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Ross Genders said.
“So we know that it’s the backside of the building where the most rubble has collapsed.
“At this time, all we know is that they’re still alive. We’re just going with what we can do.”
Superintendent Genders said they have heard “taps and noises” coming from the rubble, which is a “good indicator that there is still life underneath”.
The large blast, believed to have been caused by gas, blew out windows and damaged neighbouring townhouses in the multi-apartment complex.
Crews to work into the night
The gas supply at the site has now been turned off allowing for the search operation, which will continue into the night.
“This will be a very protracted incident because you’re taking away one piece of rubble at a time,” Superintendent Genders said.
“And then you have the floors of the building have collapsed down and that means you’ve got to take them out piece by piece without creating any other damage.”
There is no fire danger and the incident is isolated to the impacted area.
A large number of emergency services remained at the scene assisting police on Saturday evening, including intensive care paramedics and doctors with training in urban search and rescue operations.
“It was a terrible, terrible event,” Superintendent Johns said.
“What you see on the site, police fire and rescue an ambulance working hand in glove because that’s how they try and they work very, very diligently to get this sorted.
Leanne Ansell was laying on her couch when she heard a “massive explosion”.
“I raced outside thinking someone had put a firebomb on the verandah or something, and three of my windows are all smashed out,” she said.
“There’s glass all over my verandah.
“Then there was another house two doors down from me and their windows were smashed.”
Investigations are ongoing into the source of the blast.
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