Neighbors have described their shock at the death of Sahara Salman, aged four, after a huge gas explosion in the United Kingdom.
Well-wishers have paid tribute to a girl, aged four, who was killed after her home collapsed in an explosion.
The blast took place in south London in the United Kingdom on August 8. Following the explosion, Sahara Salman had been missing in the rubble. Her family desperately searched the remains of their home for the young girl as others fled. Local police authorities have since confirmed that they recovered a girl’s body from the building after the blast, while three others who were injured were taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, loving neighbors have left several bouquets and teddies at the scene, Yahoo! News reports.
BREAKING: A four-year-old girl who died after a gas explosion tore through her house sending debris flying through the air has been named as Sahara Salman.https://t.co/AAfNY2JtK9
— Metro (@MetroUK) August 9, 2022
The rest of Salman's family—including her mother Sana, her father Syed Salman Ilyas, and two siblings—escaped serious injury in the blast. Thoheed Maricar, 52, is aware of the family's current situation. He said, "The mom was saying, 'My third child is missing,’ but she could not really talk to me. She was crying and screaming. Yesterday the mom was crying and she was in a horrible situation as she had just lost a baby. I was called up at around 9 am yesterday and was told: 'Uncle, there has been a big blast at a neighbor’s house.'"
A four-year-old girl who died in a gas explosion in Thornton Heath, south London, has been named by the Metropolitan Police as Sahara Salman. https://t.co/bbmD2nMobd
— BBC London (@BBCLondonNews) August 10, 2022
Since the explosion occurred, the family has been trying to get in touch with the gas company, which they hold responsible. "I feel very, very sad about what has happened," Maricar continued. "It is just a terrible situation. The family had tried to get hold of the gas company a couple of times last week and neighbors had been trying to get hold of the gas company. The girl is a beautiful, cute four-year-old. She was a happy girl. She played around a lot and was very active." The family's neighbor Bernadette added, "I saw her playing in the garden the day before, she was playing with a ball with her little sister. They’re a lovely family. They are always wanting to do something for you, always offering to help."
Neighbours have described their shock at the death of Sahara Salman, 4, after a huge gas explosion https://t.co/td7AEfyrvG
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 9, 2022
"Yesterday, when firefighters were still searching the debris, the children’s aunt and grandma brought food out to everybody," she explained further. "Even in the middle of their distress." Since Salman went missing, children have written touching tributes in chalk at the scene of the explosion, including the words “spread your wings” alongside drawings of hearts and rainbows. Several folks have also left bouquets and stuffed toys. Approximately 500 people have had to leave their homes as a result of the blast. Southern Gas Networks (SGN) said some people would be able to return home last week but later said it was still not safe due to "engineering difficulties." The residents stated that they felt like they were now "living in limbo," BBC News reports.
'A deeply disturbing story. The mother reported the smell of gas in July, and Southern Gas said they would send a senior person out...that senior person didn't arrive.'
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 11, 2022
David Wooding reacts after a four-year-old girl killed in a gas explosion has been named as Sahara Salman. pic.twitter.com/KuZ64KfR0k
References:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sahara-salman-tributes-happy-beautiful-065255193.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-62548854
Cover Image Source: lynnrusk / Twitter
