Seven dead in factory blast, hope for survivors

Mr Sweeney told reporters at the scene that knocking noises had been heard within the last two hours, adding: “This continues to be a rescue operation and I continue to be optimistic.”

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.”

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 in there at the time.

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.''

He said: “We do believe there are people left in the building but I am not going to speculate about numbers.”

He added: “At around five o’clock and 5.30 this morning we heard knocking noises and we believe people are still alive.

“As long as we believe that, the rescue operation will continue.”

He said dedicated crews were searching the area where the knocking was heard.

“The sniffer dogs have also picked up that knocking and we are investigating that with dedicated crews.

“So the job continues, the rescue is still underway.

“No one was rescued last night successfully, but we remain optimistic.”

Julie Ryan, of the International Rescue Corp, said the search for survivors was “very laborious”.

“We are moving the debris bit by bit, shoring up parts of the building that may potentially collapse,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“The last thing we want to do is to injure or trap any of our rescue workers.”

Ms Ryan said that the organisation was using a Trapped Person Locator to listen for signs of life, a carbon dioxide analysis which probes the rubble for exhaled air from unconscious victims and a camera probe.

“We got a potential sound on our sound locator but that could have been the generators or some local background noise,” she said.

“It did give us some hope and that enabled us to try and look in particular areas.”

Ms Ryan added: “We never give up hope. We always attempt to try and find people for as long as possible.”

Local MP Ann McKechin said the incident had implications for planing rules across the country.

The location of the factory, in a residential area, did comply with current regulations, the Labour MP for Glasgow Maryhill said.

“This is an old factory which is in an are that has been redeveloped quite extensively over the last 15 or 20 years,” she said.

“There are now substantial residential areas close to it, as well as shops.

“So, I’m sure that as, perhaps, part of the longer term inquiry, there will be questions as to whether or not the current guidelines are really adequate.”

Ms McKechin added: “Clearly this has implications throughout the United Kingdom and I think our first priority is to find out what went wrong in that factory yesterday and why people ended up losing their lives.”