A man believed to be missing after fire destroyed a Rochdale terraced house trapping two men inside has been found.
Firefighters confirmed that all residents were accounted for following the fire at War Office Road after the missing man was found in a different location.
Two men, aged 63 and 36, were rescued after becoming trapped in the rubble of the destroyed house – The 36-year-old remains in hospital and the 63-year-old was discharged after treatment.
A woman, believed to be aged 74, was also suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation but she declined hospital treatment.
Area Manager Wayne Shields said: “Something has happened in an end terraced property – a row of four houses – that’s caused the gable end of the house to completely collapse, causing severe structural damage to that property and a severe fire on the first floor, which spread into the roof space of the house next door.
“We received reports of a fourth resident in that end terraced property but neighbours say that person hasn’t been living there over the past few weeks.
“It’s far too early to say what’s happened, but we have been working with National Grid and North West Electricity.
“We also have community safety teams and volunteers at the scene to reassure the community and offer advice.”
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