Halifax House Explosion: Butane Gas Canisters Found After Coventry Street Blast Leaves Two Critically Injured

A quiet Halifax street turned into a scene of devastation in the early hours of Thursday morning when an explosion rocked a terraced house on Coventry Street, leaving two men fighting for their lives and forcing dozens of neighbours to flee their homes.

Residents were jolted awake shortly after midnight by a huge bang, followed by a series of smaller explosions that rattled windows along the street. CCTV footage from a nearby home captured the dramatic moment of the blast, then showed terrified people running into the street shouting, “Get out of the house!”

Emergency services rushed to the scene, where they found parts of the house’s upstairs blown away. The road was quickly cordoned off, and 14 neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.

A Dangerous Discovery

As firefighters worked to secure the site and police began their investigation, they made a shocking discovery inside the wreckage: a large number of butane gas canisters scattered throughout the damaged home.

Detective Chief Inspector Clare Smith of West Yorkshire Police addressed concerns in the community, saying:

> “We understand there will be speculation about what has happened and what caused this explosion. We can confirm that a large number of butane gas canisters were found in the property, and these form a key part of our ongoing enquiries. We are working alongside specialist fire investigators to ensure a comprehensive investigation is carried out.”

Gas Network Not to Blame

To ease fears of a wider gas leak, Northern Gas Networks confirmed the explosion was not related to their supply. A spokesperson said:

> “We disconnected the gas supply to 14 properties at the request of emergency services. We are supporting the investigation, but this incident is not suspected to be linked to our network.”

Critical Injuries and Community Impact

Two men who were inside the house at the time of the explosion suffered critical injuries and remain in hospital. A third person, also in the house, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Police and medical teams have not yet provided an update on the condition of the two men.

The community is reeling from the incident, with neighbours describing the terrifying moment they were forced to grab their loved ones and run into the street. One resident said:

> “We heard a huge bang, then the whole street lit up. We thought it was a bomb at first. Everyone was screaming and telling each other to get out.”

Ongoing Investigation

West Yorkshire Police have appealed to anyone with information or CCTV footage of the moments before or after the explosion to come forward, stressing that the discovery of the butane canisters is a crucial part of their inquiry.

Emergency services and structural engineers remain at the scene to assess damage to nearby homes, and it’s unclear when evacuated residents will be allowed to return.

As Halifax comes to terms with the shocking events on Coventry Street, investigators are working tirelessly to piece together exactly what caused the devastating blast.