Child dies after house explosion in south London

A child died on Monday following an explosion at a house in south London, the London Ambulance Service announced.

London Ambulance Service tweeted: "This morning, alongside colleagues from London Fire we attended an incident in Thornton Heath. We treated four people. One was discharged and three others were taken to hospital. Sadly, a child was also pronounced dead at the scene. All LAS crews have now been stood down."

Shortly after 7 a.m. this morning, around 40 firefighters and six fire engines were sent to the fire. A building had collapsed after an explosion. Four people were rescued.

Around the house, forty properties were evacuated as residents gathered outside a 50-meter (164-feet) police cordon.

The explosion is reported to be gas-related, with locals complaining to local media that there was a strong smell of gas for the past two weeks, with some saying they had felt dizzy.