Two houses in Richmond, south London collapsed suddenly causing emergency services to be scrambled amid a probe over a possible gas leak.
Police officers, firefighters and paramedics arrived on Lower Mortlake Road after the homes, which are thought to have been under renovation, turned into rubble on Tuesday afternoon.
Locals reported the properties affected were undergoing a basement refurbishment before they suddenly crashed into rubble just before 3pm.
Reports suggest there was a loud ‘bang’ and ‘lots of smoke’ before residents looked outside to see bricks, wood and other building materials strewn all over the street.
Richmond is one of the capital’s most exclusive areas and is home to celebrities including Sir David Attenborough.
No injuries were reported and responders are looking into the possibility the collapse was caused by a gas leak, Richmond Nub News reports.
Photos show the two houses, identified as 46 and 47 Lower Mortlake Road, almost completely destroyed with just the side walls intact.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.