Two still trapped in Glasgow rubble
Two people are believed to be still trapped beneath the rubble of the Glasgow factory explosion which has so far claimed seven lives, police said tonight.
Chief Superintendent David Christie confirmed the number feared trapped at the devastated Stockline Plastics site in the Maryhill area of the city.
The four-storey building collapsed in seconds following a massive blast shortly after midday yesterday.
Mr Christie said he remained cautiously optimistic they would still find survivors, even though rescuers have not heard any voices or tapping from beneath the rubble since 5.30am today.
The police chief said it was believed the two men not accounted for at the rescue site were members of staff at the factory but they could not be certain that there were no passers-by caught beneath the rubble.
He said: “Our inquiry leads us to believe that there are two people who may potentially still be within the rescue site.
“However we cannot and do not know if there was anyone else who was perhaps passing by who was perhaps affected by the building collapse.”
Mr Christie estimated the rescue phase would continue until 8am on Saturday at the present rate.
“We will continue with that phase of the operation until such time as we have exhausted all possibilities, work through all the rubble and rescue anyone potentially still there,” he added.
Speaking as an 80ft crane began the procedure of lifting parts of the collapsed roof of the factory to help rescue workers, he confirmed 44 people were taken to hospital after the blast, of which 16 remain in a serious condition.
Meanwhile, Strathclyde Police named some of the victims who died when the four-storey building in Grovepark Street collapsed shortly after midday yesterday.
They were Ann Trench, 34, of Colston, in the north of Glasgow; Margaret Brownlie, 49, of Glassford Road, Strathaven, Lanarkshire; Tracey McErlane, 27, of Wester Common Drive, Possilpark, Glasgow; and Peter Ferguson, 52, of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.
The body of another man has been identified but the family do not want his name to be released at the moment.
About 40 people were injured in the blast, seven of whom were pulled from the building.
The last survivor to be pulled from the rubble was rescued at 9pm yesterday.
