More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
One person remains in a life-threatening condition following an explosion that destroyed a house in Ashford.
Fencing has now gone up around the damaged homes in Willesborough two weeks on from the blast, with a fundraiser for the victims passing £10,000.
Seven people were injured in the gas explosion on the morning of Tuesday, May 4, which destroyed one house and severely damaged at least two others.
Of those injured, two were taken to hospital with what police at the time described as "serious injures".
A police spokesman said today that of the two, "one remains in a life-threatening condition, while the other is improving".
It was revealed last week that the suspected cause of the explosion was a leaky portable gas heater.
Ashford Borough Council (ABC) leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson visited the site last week and told a KentOnline reporter that it was likely that all four homes would have to be demolished.
Today, an ABC spokesman said that the decision on the houses – three of which are council-owned with one owned privately – was yet to be taken definitively.
He said: “A decision on whether all of the properties will be demolished will be taken in conjunction with the loss adjusters acting for the council and also for the private resident involved.
"We are in regular contact with the affected residents and are working with them to ensure their ongoing needs are met.”
A fundraiser set up by the head of a local Facebook group has now raised more than £10,000 from almost 500 donations.
