A man has died following an explosion on a residential street in Rotherham, prompting an investigation by authorities.
Emergency services, including three fire engines, were dispatched to Clifton Mount around 1:20 p.m. local time on September 29 after residents reported hearing a loud explosion.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered a man deceased at the scene. The cause of the explosion is now under investigation by South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services.
Initial reports from Cadent Gas, the gas distributor for the area, suggest that the incident was not related to their gas network.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that early inquiries indicate no ongoing risk to the wider community. A cordon was temporarily established around Clifton Mount to facilitate the investigation but has since been lifted. A Tactical Support Group van, eight police cars, and scientific support officers were observed at the scene.
Local residents described hearing a significant sound, with one individual comparing it to a bomb, and another reporting the noise from over a kilometer away.
"At 1:18 p.m. today (September 29) we were alerted by the fire service of reports of an explosion on Clifton Mount, in Rotherham," South Yorkshire Police stated. "Emergency services attended and a man was sadly found deceased. In collaboration with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services, enquiries are ongoing to confirm the cause of the explosion. Initial enquiries indicate that there is no risk to the wider community. Clifton Mount was closed but has since been reopened."
A spokesperson for Cadent Gas said, "First and foremost, our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the individual who has lost their life in tragic circumstances. Cadent's role on site has been to support the emergency services as best we possibly can, and we will continue to do that."
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue reported, "Crews were called at 1:18 p.m. today (September 29) to reports of an explosion on Clifton Mount, in Rotherham. Three fire engines from Rotherham and Tankersley fire stations attended and made the scene safe alongside partner agencies. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation."