House completely damaged after a gas cylinder exploded indoors – had to be demolished

– As there is a risk of the house collapsing onto the nearest neighboring house, it has been decided to demolish, writes Sørøst police district in the police log on Wednesday morning.

Barely three hours later, the police came with an update that the residential building in the secluded neighborhood in Langesund had been razed to the ground.

– The house has now been demolished. The contractor will be working on site throughout the day. The police have finished at the scene, writes operations manager Marianne Stabell Mørch.

Two residents to hospital

Operations leader Ståle Fuglaas was at the scene on Wednesday morning. The police had been alerted by neighbors about a loud bang and glass shattering at 5 o’clock in the morning.

Inside the house there were two people, one in his 80s and one in his 50s. They were both sent to the trauma unit at Telemark Hospital.

– We have information that there are moderate injuries. The explosion is most likely caused by a leak on a propane tank indoors which was ignited in connection with smoking, says Fuglaas to the newspaper The cairn.

Neighbors evacuated

There was extensive material damage to the house. All of the windows were blown out. The neighbors in the nearest neighboring house were evacuated due to the danger that the destroyed house could fall over.

– There are no windows and doors left. Three entire walls of the house have been partially torn off, and it has moved from the foundation wall, says the task leader.