The search continues for a trainee nurse missing under the rubble after a townhouse exploded in Sydney's west, as an investigation begins into reports gas had been leaking from the complex long before the blast.
The woman was believed to have been on the second floor of the two-storey complex when an explosion caused it to collapse at Waikanda Crescent in Whalan about 12.50pm yesterday.
She remained unaccounted for tonight after five others were hospitalised and later discharged.
At the time of the explosion, the nurse had been visiting her mother, who remained at the ruins keeping vigil, praying for news and being looked after by neighbours.
"She kept saying, 'My daughter's strong, my daughter's strong, my daughter's strong'," neighbour Evelyn Shogunle said.
"And i just said to her, "Just have faith and have strength and at this stage we need to look after you'."
Police dogs have combed through the debris and have not signalled any signs of human activity underneath.
Crews, including firefighters who assisted in Turkey after a dual earthquake devastated the region last year, are trying to determine whether she remains trapped under the ruins at the back side of the building.
"The bottom line is there's been the total destruction of a large building and it's the job of the rescuers to work their way through that rubble to try to find spaces in that collapsed area where someone might have been caught," Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said this afternoon.
"This is still within the window for someone to survive."
Reports of 'gas leak smell' in months before explosion
Andrew's grandfather was one of the five people hospitalised after the explosion at the government-owned units.
He told 9News there was "always a gas leak smell" at the building.
Housing Minister Rose Jackson confirmed her department was investigating the report.
"I am deeply concerned to hear of accounts from residents who reportedly raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months," she said.
"I have instructed Homes NSW to urgently investigate this matter. The Department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this."
In the meantime, Jackson said all residents would receive counselling and temporary accommodation until future housing options are identified.
"Tenants will have the option to be relocated to alternative housing with the option to return to the site after reconstruction," she said.
"Relocation costs (packing, moving, and unpacking) will also be provided."
Search for missing woman continues
An acoustic monitoring device, jackhammers, chainsaws and other equipment are being used to break up the rubble in the search for the trainee nurse.
"The process is slow and meticulous in the interest of safety at the site," firefighters said in an update this afternoon.
There have been a number of small spot fires underneath parts of the debris, which hindered the rescue operation yesterday.
Once the search and rescue operation ends, authorities will step up efforts to forensically determine the cause of the explosion.
"There's been a range of complications throughout the operation, we had a gas leak early on which took a significant amount of time to shut down," Fewtrell told reporters earlier today.
"There was also a fire underneath the rubble in the collapsed area and from time to time that's been flaring up, they've been unable to reach the fire directly due to the debris."
Police superintendent Trent King said the majority of the people who were rescued were under the care of state housing.
"This is a very confronting scene for all emergency personnel that are inside at the moment working in there," he said earlier today.
"The amount of work that's been done by all emergency services over the last 18 hours has been remarkable, particularly considering the weather conditions and the level of destruction behind us."
Carol, a resident at the townhouse, had been inside when it exploded and took shelter underneath a door frame.
"All of sudden there was this loud explosion and everything started to come down," she told 9News.
"I couldn't get out, there was no stairwell."
Walter, another resident inside the complex, made it out in time.
"There was a light, a bright light, then boom, my kitchen window blew out first, then the ceiling collapsed", he told 9News.
While Leanne Ansell, who lives two doors down from the townhouse was also impacted.
"There's glass all over my verandah, two of my bedroom windows were smashed out, and my lounge room was smashed as well," she said.
Police have said that it could take days to determine the cause of the explosion.
"The large blast blew out windows and damaged neighbouring townhouses in the multi-apartment complex," Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement.
Initially, a gas leak had prevented rescuers from entering the ruins, but the gas supply to the area has since been cut off.
Fire and Rescue NSW said the danger had been isolated to the area of the collapse.
More than a dozen units were deployed including HAZMAT and aerial drone units.
Members of the public have been urged to avoid the scene, and local traffic diversions are in place.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvZXhwbG9zaW9uLWF0LXdlc3Qtc3lkbmV5LXVuaXQtYmxvY2stY2F1c2VzLWJ1aWxkaW5nLXRvLXBhcnRpYWxseS1jb2xsYXBzZS9lYWI0MDJkZS0wYWNhLTQ4ZjgtOTBjZC1hNGIzOTk4MmFlMWPSAQA?oc=5
2024-06-02 04:47:38Z
CBMikAFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvZXhwbG9zaW9uLWF0LXdlc3Qtc3lkbmV5LXVuaXQtYmxvY2stY2F1c2VzLWJ1aWxkaW5nLXRvLXBhcnRpYWxseS1jb2xsYXBzZS9lYWI0MDJkZS0wYWNhLTQ4ZjgtOTBjZC1hNGIzOTk4MmFlMWPSAQA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Rescue crews continue to search rubble for woman missing after gas explosion - 9News"
Post a Comment