Days of disruption expected after fatal flat explosion

Disruption is expected for respective days astir the tract of a fatal level detonation successful Clackmannanshire.

Police are continuing investigations into the blast successful Alloa connected Sunday nighttime which killed 1 antheral and near 3 others injured successful hospital.

Emergency services person remained astatine the country connected Kellie Place, which is cordoned disconnected arsenic enactment continues to marque the two-storey gathering safe.

A tiny fig of residents who were evacuated are incapable to entree their homes.

Ellen Forson, the person of Clackmannanshire Council, told the BBC that archetypal investigations suggested the wider country was safe.

She said: "I deliberation that section radical should expect immoderate disruption successful the coming days, conscionable to let the probe to instrumentality spot and to marque definite that thing is disturbed that's important."

She besides praised the "tight knit community" for coming unneurotic to help.

Nearby residents told BBC Scotland News the detonation sounded similar a "sonic boom" erstwhile it happened astatine the two-storey artifact of flats connected Sunday nighttime astir 18:00.

A remainder centre that was acceptable up astatine Alloa Town Hall aft the incidental has present closed, with those affected having recovered accommodation with friends and family.

Two men, aged 72 and 19, and a 49-year-old pistillate were taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for treatment.

The area's MSP Keith Brown said determination was a "sense of shock" successful the community.

He said: "I can't spot that peculiar thoroughfare being utilized until it's made wholly safe, and that includes the aboriginal of the location that's been the taxable of the explosion."

He added that arsenic good arsenic the exigency services, obstruction authorities had besides attended the scene, due to the fact that the tract is connected the span of the section railway.

CCTV footage recorded by a adjacent edifice captured the infinitesimal of the explosion.

A fig of locals were reported to person rushed to the country to effort and help.

Police Scotland Ch Insp Kat Thompson thanked the section assemblage for their assistance.

She said: "Our inquiries are ongoing to found the afloat circumstances of what happened and we proceed to enactment with spouse agencies.

“Our thoughts are with the household of the antheral who has died and everyone affected successful the section community.

“We would similar to convey the section assemblage for their co-operation and enactment and officers stay successful the area.

The occurrence work said specializer municipality hunt and rescue units and a dense rescue portion were among the resources it had deployed.

On Monday state engineers were seen carrying retired enactment successful beforehand of the damaged flat.