An explosion happened at Manchester. Three schools remain closed after two gas explosions at a former Hospital in South Manchester.

A work man in his 40’s suffered burns to his face, hands and back in the initial blast at the old Washington Hospital site on Tuesday morning. The 40 year old man was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital where his condition was described as not life threatening.

A second blast followed about an hour later in the same area.

Manchester Council said Cavendish Primary School, The Birches Special School, Lancasterian Special School, would all be closed for pupils. It was decided that mentioned schools should be temporarily closed after the incident happened.

The Schools’ gas supply may be intermittent while investigations are carried out, but pupils are expected to return on Thursday.

Nearby properties and a nearby Police station were evacuated until the evening. However, a cordon remains in place around the old Hospital site, which is being turned into apartments. Altogether six apartments, along with the main entrance hall and ornate tower, were damaged in  the blast which occured at 9:45 am this morning.

The Health and  Safety Executive (HSE) is to investigate the cause of the blasts but it is thought a gas main may have been damaged during building work. Specialist teams from Greater Manchester Fire Service search the are using sniffer dogs in the partially collapsed building.

Rescue workers are continuing to search a block of flats partially destroyed by a gas explosion, although it is now thought unlikely that anyone is trapped inside.