People evacuated , roads sealed off and traffic diverted

Two men have been taken to hospital following a gas explosion in a two-storey building in South Ealing.

Emergency crews were called to flats at Carlyle House in Carlyle Road, South Ealing, at 0915 GMT on Sunday.

Local resident Emma Renton heard the explosion and said she thought her windows were going to blow in

The injured men were in their 60s and suffered minor injuries.

The roof of the building has been badly damaged and London Fire Brigade said the block remained unstable.

There is also damage to the interior of the flats.

A number of people were evacuated from the flats and taken to Ealing Town Hall.

Two crews and a "hazardous area" response team were among the ambulance units sent to the scene.

South Ealing Road has been closed to traffic at its junction with Carlyle Road and the 65 bus, which runs between Ealing and Kingston, has been diverted.

An investigation is underway into what caused the blast.

19th February 2011