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A child, believed to be a four-year-old girl, has died and three other people are in hospital after a terraced home collapsed following a gas explosion and fire in south London.

The explosion, on Galpin’s Road in Thornton Heath, happened at about 07:10 BST, and also damaged other houses.

The Metropolitan Police said the girl’s next of kin have been informed and an investigation is under way.

Residents say they had reported a strong gas smell two weeks ago.

Merton Council said the blast was caused by gas, describing it as a “major incident”.

House with roof blown off — Image caption,

Neighbouring houses have been evacuated

Richard Welch, London Fire Brigade (LFB) deputy assistant commissioner, told journalists during a press conference that affected residents were being looked after by Merton Council.

“They are currently in a rest centre and they will be provided with accommodation until they can get back in their homes.

“We are working with the local authority to make sure any medication or whatever else is being provided.”

Urban Search and Rescue team at the scene in Galpin's Road in Thornton Heath, south London, — Image caption,

Urban search-and-rescue teams, including dogs, at the scene in Galpin’s Road

Two neighbours, Kutoya Kukanda, 50, and Delroy Simms, 62, said they helped rescue three children from the rubble.

Residents described the children who lived in the house as “lively” and “happy”.

“They were always mischievous, happy and bouncing around.”

Kutoya Kukanda, 50, and Delroy Simms, 62 — Image caption,

Kutoya Kukanda and Delroy Simms said they helped to find the surviving children in the rubble

Image caption,

Gas specialists are also at the scene

About 40 properties have been evacuated as a precaution. A 50m cordon is in place.

People who were evacuated from Galpin’s Road in their pyjamas after the blast said their windows were shattered in the explosion.

In a statement, Merton Council said: “Firefighters are currently carrying out systematic searches and working to make the scene safe.”

A terraced house has collapsed following an explosion and neighbouring properties have also been damaged. — Image caption,

Neighbouring properties were also damaged in the blast

An evacuation centre has been established at the New Horizons Centre.

A spokeswoman from gas distribution company SGN, which is the gas emergency service in the area, said: “Following the explosion in Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath, earlier today, our deepest sympathies are with the family of the child who has tragically died as well as those who have been injured.

“We’d like to reassure everyone that our engineers are working closely with the emergency services to establish the cause of the explosion. Given the ongoing police investigation, it is inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.”

Emergency services at Galpin Road — Image caption,

Firefighters have been working to make the scene safe

LFB has said the cause of the explosion is unknown, and confirmed that crews would continue to work at the scene for the rest of the day and overnight.

Mr Welch added that the fire brigade was not searching for anyone else following the explosion.

Responding to a question over residents stating they could smell gas over the last two weeks, Mr Welch said: “Unfortunately we can’t say if it’s gas that’s caused it.

“It will become a police investigation now.

“We dealt with the emergency phase of the incident and we will be handing it over to local authorities and local police.”