- Elderly woman is missing after a gas explosion tore through her home last night
- Fire crews confirmed bungalow in Looe, Cornwall, was completely destroyed
- Said the female believed to have been inside remains ‘unaccounted for’
- Blaze took hold shortly before 8pm and by 11.45pm bungalow was fully gutted
An elderly woman is missing after a gas explosion tore through her home on New Year’s Eve.
Fire crews have confirmed the detached bungalow in Looe, Cornwall, was completely destroyed and the woman believed to have been inside remains ‘unaccounted for’.
The devastating blaze took hold at the property shortly before 8pm last night and by 11.45pm the bungalow was fully gutted.
Fire crews have confirmed a detached bungalow in Looe, Cornwall, was completely destroyed and the female believed to have been inside remains ‘unaccounted for’
Rescuers are due to return this morning to carry out a search for any bodies inside.
Inspector John Shuttleworth of Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘A suspected gas leak has started the fire.
‘Fire investigators are attending this morning in order to establish the exact cause of the fire.
‘A further search of the scene will confirm whether any persons have been tragically trapped.
‘Enquiries are still ongoing to establish the whereabouts of the female occupant who is believed to live in the property’.
Rescuers are due to return at 10am today to carry out a search for any bodies inside
The fire destroyed a bungalow in Looe, Cornwall, and an elderly woman is feared dead
Fire Incident Command Officer Mark Goldsmith confirmed the woman who was missing was a pensioner.
Shocked witnesses said they watched the house burn to the ground in a ‘heart wrenching’ 20 minutes.
Alex Purcell said on Twitter: ‘In West Looe watching heart wrenching fire in East Looe as house is lost to fire in 20 mins. Love to those affected.’
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the first call was made to them at 7.50pm and they remained on the scene until 3.30am.
A spokesman added: ‘We received multiple calls from members of the public reporting a fire at a property in Barbican Hill, East Looe.
‘On arrival the officer in charge confirmed the property was well alight.
‘The detached bungalow was completely destroyed by fire.’
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the first call was made to them at 7.50pm and they remained on the scene until 3.30am