Two people pulled from rubble of Edinburgh home after large explosion

Two people have been rescued from a home in Scotland after an explosion in residential Edinburgh, the nation’s capital.

Police Scotland confirmed reports were received of an eruption at an address on Baberton Mains Avenue at roughly 10.25pm on Friday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances had been in attendance and that two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home prior to their arrival.

The service left the scene at 6.39am on Saturday after handing control over to Police Scotland.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, some locals reported hearing the explosion as far away as Gilmerton, a suburb on the fringe of Edinburgh and miles from the blast site.

Neighbours revealed they could feel their homes shaking, while another person tweeted that they had heard the blast from inside a movie theatre in the nearby suburb of Wester Hailes.

Police Scotland said: “Around 10.25pm on Friday,1 December 2023, we were called to reports of an explosion at a property on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

“Emergency services are at the scene, and we would advise people to avoid the area at this time.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 10.26 pm on Friday 1 December to reports of a gas explosion affecting residential properties on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

“Operations control mobilised five fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters worked to make the area safe.

“Two casualties were rescued prior to our arrival, and the crews remain on scene.”