Giant components of Strathaven are closed off this morning after an enormous fireplace engulfed a preferred butchershop and adjoining flats there.
That resulted in two individuals being taken to hospital for remedy, with six fireplace engines being deployed to cope with the blaze.
It follows an "explosion" within the city final night time, with emergency providers racing to the scene at Ann Davidson Butchers on Inexperienced Road simply earlier than midnight.
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The blaze, which "might be seen for miles", tore by the premises and flats above, with heartbroken residents being evacuated and taken care of by others locally.
Firefighters labored by the night time to get the inferno underneath management and police closed off roads resulting in Inexperienced Road across the city.
A SFRS spokeswoman advised Lanarkshire Reside this morning: “We have been alerted at 11.39pm to experiences of a fireplace in a constructing in Inexperienced Road, Strathaven.
"We mobilised a complete of six home equipment to the scene. The hearth had taken maintain inside business premises and two residential properties located above.
"Firefighters transferred two casualties to the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service after which labored to comprise the fireplace. Crews are presently working to extinguish some remaining pockets of fireplace.”
One native stated they heard an "explosion" while others believed individuals have been letting fireworks off.
An eyewitness advised Lanarkshire Reside: "My spouse shouted me from upstairs simply earlier than midnight when she heard the explosion.
"I went up and we might see a column of smoke beginning to rise and I headed out to see if anybody was harm or if I might assist."
Dozens of locals took to social media to specific their shock and disappointment over the fireplace with Hanna Sus McSweeney stating: "Hope nobody was harm and okay.
"So many wee companies subsequent to the butchers as effectively. Gutted for all of the loss and harm."
And Kirsty Ward posted: "Heard the bang however thought it was fireworks occurring for ages! Appears just like the again of the butchers is completely blown out and effectively on fireplace."
The house owners of native cafe 13 Barn Road stated their "hearts exit" to all these affected by the fireplace.
Posting to social media, they added: "Issues have been exhausting sufficient for the final couple of years however to lose every thing in a matter of hours is horrific.
"If there's something we will do please give us a shout."
Police Scotland have been contacted for a remark.
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