Seven dead in Glasgow blast and police are investigating onsite

Seven dead in Glasgow blast and police are investigating onsite

Strathclyde Firemaster Brian Sweeney said that rescue workers were hopeful that survivors could still be found, telling reporters at the scene that knocking noises had been heard within the last two hours. "This continues to be a rescue operation and I continue to be optimistic," he said.

Mr Sweeney said 80 to 100 firefighters were still on site and that the scene had been divided into six search areas. Searchers heard knocking noises at around 5am and sniffer dogs had also given indications that there may still be people trapped inside. But rescuers also removed a body bag from the rubble of the early today. Firemaster Sweeney said: "The operation obviously has continued overnight; we still have between 80 and 100 firefighters on site.

"Yesterday evening we put out a call for help across the United kingdom for dedicated urban search and rescue specialists to assist us because we believe that that operation, that rescue operation will continue for several days. "During the evening, sadly, we have discovered more fatalities in terms of people who have lost their lives. I can confirm to you that the death toll now stands at seven."

The clock has been ticking for rescuers since an explosion brought the four-storey Stockline Plastics building in Glasgow crashing down yesterday at noon. The building in Grovepark Street, off Maryhill Road, collapsed in seconds following the blast and rescue workers have been working since to find survivors. Around 40 people have been confirmed as injured; seven of those were pulled from the building. Hopes were raised again when rescue workers reported hearing the faint knocking sounds at 5am.

Rubble sensors picked up the noises. The floodlights and their noisy generators were turned off to enable the rescuers to listen for further sounds. One member of the International Rescue Corps, an organisation more used to dealing with earthquake scenes, said: "This gives us fresh hope". However, others cautioned that it may just have been background noise. It was believed that three people may still be trapped in the wreckage of the building, although police have stressed that they cannot give an official figure as they do not know exactly how many people were inside at the time of the explosion.

The last survivor rescued was a young woman who had been able to communicate with her rescuers through the rubble. She was brought out at around 9pm after an nine hour ordeal. Firemaster Sweeney said she had been found in "distressing circumstances" but was expected to make a full recovery. Firemaster Sweeney said: "If there are people who can be saved we will save them. We have already pulled seven people from deep within the rubble." "We do believe there are people left in the building but I am not going to speculate about numbers."