One dead as Sydney unit catches fire

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One person has died and three others are hospitalized after an explosion sparked a fire that engulfed an apartment block in Sydney’s northwest.

Fire and Rescue NSW said they received a call about an explosion and fire in a block of units in Yonge Street, Croydon around 5:45 am on Monday.

Twelve fire trucks and more than 40 firefighters arrived to find that the fire had engulfed the ground floor apartment and spread to the units above.

Trapped residents living on the third floor were rescued by firefighters on ladders, and about 30 people were evacuated.

Residents say they were getting ready for work when they took charge of the blast.

“Suddenly the house shook and I felt a very loud noise and glass breaking,” she told ABC TV.

“I thought the back of the house was collapsing, so I ran out with my family and went down to the back to see what was going on.”

She saw a 4-meter “big fireball” before yelling at people to evacuate.

Residents, firefighters and police officers were taken to hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found a dead body inside the ground floor unit where the fire was believed to have started.

Fire investigators are working with NSW Police to determine the cause of the incident.

– AAP