Elderly man, 84, dies after house explosion horror rocked neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake’

• A man, 84, has died after a house exploded in the Baberton area of Edinburgh 
• Footage of house was shared online showing it had been completely destroyed
• Did you see or hear the explosion? Email [email protected] 

An elderly man has died after an explosion at a house in Edinburgh rocked a neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake’ last night.

Police Scotland said officers were called to the Baberton area of the city at 10.25pm on Friday following ‘multiple reports’ of the incident which destroyed the home.

A man, 84, died after the horrific house explosion, police said.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances had been in attendance and that two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home prior to their arrival. A 43-year-old woman and 54-year-old man were also taken to hospital for treatment, but their condition is currently unknown.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.

An aerial photo showing the destruction in the Baberton area of Edinburgh after a house explosion last night

An an elderly man has died after an explosion at a house in Edinburgh rocked a neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake ‘ last night

Police officers at the scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after an 84-year-old man has died following an explosion at a house on Friday night

The property was reduced to rubble and debris was strewn across the residential street in Baberton after the blast at around 10.25pm

A number of homes were also evacuated as a precaution and the road – Baberton Mains Avenue – remains closed as of Saturday morning.

The property was reduced to rubble and debris was strewn across the residential street in Baberton after the blast at around 10.25pm.

Emergency services were on the scene in Baberton Mains Avenue yesterday and advised people to avoid the area.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances had attended and two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home before their arrival.

The service left the scene at 6.39am on Saturday after handing control to Police Scotland.

Some locals reported hearing the explosion as far away as Gilmerton, a suburb miles from the blast site.

Neighbours said they felt their homes shaking, while another person posted that they had heard the blast from inside a cinema in nearby Wester Hailes.

Huge amounts of rubble little Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh, after a house exploded last night

Police at the scene of the explosion this morning, as stunned locals look on

The explosion completely destroyed the house which killed at 84-year-old man

Dramatic footage of the house was shared on social media showing it had been completely destroyed.

A car on the driveway was covered in rubble and damage could be seen to the neighbouring house. Residents said it was a suspected gas explosion.

One local wrote on Facebook: ‘Very scary. What a fright we all got. The couple/owners are out and away to hospital.’

Another claimed to have pulled a person out from under the rubble, commenting: ‘Both are safe and away to hospital! Me and another guy pulled the woman from the rubble! Very scary that was.’

A third penned on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘I heard the loud bang from my house.’

A fourth said: ‘Heard the bang but thought it was fireworks going off.’ 

People in a nearby cinema felt the explosion and residents reported their homes shaking.

The scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after an 84-year-old man has died following an explosion at a house on Friday night

A car on the driveway was covered in rubble and damage could be seen to the neighbouring house. Residents said it was a suspected gas explosion

People in a nearby cinema felt the explosion and residents reported their homes shaking

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘Around 10.25pm on Friday, 1 December, 2023 we were called to reports of an explosion at a property on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

‘Emergency services are at the scene, and we would advise people to avoid the area at this time.’

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We were alerted at 10.26 pm on Friday 1 December to reports of a gas explosion affecting residential properties on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

‘Operations control mobilised five fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters worked to make the area safe.

‘Two casualties were rescued prior to our arrival, and the crews remain on scene.’

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