3 hours ago
6
A seven-year-old boy who died in a house explosion has been named locally as Archie York.
The blast, which happened at about 00:45 BST on Wednesday, destroyed six flats on Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle.
A body of a man, believed to be in his 30s, which was found in the rubble, is yet to be identified.
An investigation by emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the cause of the blast is under way.
Five adults and a child were also taken to hospital with varying degrees of injuries, with all but one discharged following treatment.
A number of families were forced to flee their homes following the blast at the council-maintained property and are in temporary accommodation.
Cordons around the site are "expected to be in place for some time", police said.
Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk
