UPDATED* Oldham explosion: Child killed in blast

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A young child has been killed in a suspected gas explosion in the Manchester region.

Emergency services were called to the Shaw area of Oldham at around 11.15am today (26th June) following reports that homes were seriously damaged in a blast.

Police say that two properties - numbers nine and 11 - sustained significant damage.

It has been confirmed that a two-year-old child was killed, and a man, 27, rushed to hospital with 80% burns. The two are not believed to be related.

Police are treating the child's death as suspicious.

Fire, police and ambulance personnel continue to search the debris with assistance from Oldham Council, but it is thought that all residents are now accounted for.

Superintendent Neil Evans said: "First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of this young child who has tragically died.

“His loved ones are absolutely distraught and we will provide them with whatever support we can at what is clearly a very difficult and upsetting time.

“This incident has shocked the community of Shaw and I want to reassure them that all emergency services are committed to helping those whose homes are damaged in whatever way we can and to get all others who have been evacuated back home as soon as possible.

“When incidents such as this happen communities really pull together and this is the case in Shaw. All residents are rallying around one another and I know they will continue to support each other and the emergency services over the coming hours and days.

“Men and women from all emergency services have taken great risks today and on behalf of GMP I would like to thank them all for their efforts.

“We are also aware of some rumours within the local community about a potential domestic disturbance in the area last night.

“What I can categorically say is that if that is the case, the police were not called. However, if anyone has any information about this, particularly if they think it might be relevant to what happened today, I would urge them to get in touch.”

Anyone with any information can call police on 0161 856 8959, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.