Explosion in Plymouth city centre sparks huge emergency response

Emergency services on the scene in New George Street (Image: Plymouth Live)Reports have emerged of a gas explosion in Plymouth city centre today (November 9), triggering a huge emergency response.The blast is understood to have happened on New George Street, with early pictures from the scene showing a large number of police and fire engines in attendance.PlymouthLive’s Sarah Elmes is at the scene of the explosion and has reported her findings of the incident. Currently, it is understood that injuries to members of the public have been reported and a green tent has been put up around the back of a van.Sarah says: “At the moment there is a police cordon outside the Halifax bank in New George Street.”A security van has been taped off and there is a police cordon around it and an ambulance within the cordon.”A police officer at the scene says the Health and Safety Executive are en route to assess the situation.”It looks like there has been an explosion in the back of a van and there is some debris spread across the street.”Lots of members of the public are watching and there are multiple police, paramedics and firefighters.”A tweet from PC Tom Ottley, Neighbourhood Beat Manager for Plymouth City Centre and Barbican, indicated that Devon and Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue were all on the scene.PC Ottley also said cordons were in place at the scene, and that it was being treated as an “isolated incident”.The tweet said: “Emergency services are dealing with reports of a gas explosion on New George Street. This is an isolated incident and cordons are in place to ensure the safety of the public.”Since then, a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police has confirmed the ‘scene is completely safe’. The spokesperson said: “We were called to a report of an explosion. On arrival it was asertained that it was an isolated incident and it was going to be classed as an industrial accident. “One male, injured party, with arm injuries. No further members of the public involved and nothing for anyone else to worry about. The scene is completely safe.”Devon and Cornwall Police and the fire service have been contacted for further details.This story will be updated as and when we receive more information.