Firefighters are set to carry out searches of a house ripped apart by a gas explosion after receiving information that there could be somebody inside.
The crews were called to house on Abbey Hey Lane , in the Abbey Hey area, shortly after 10am.
One man was dragged from the wreckage by heroic neighbours but firefighters are now due to enter the property after begin told there could be somebody else inside.
The crews had to make the property safe and wait for the gas supply to be isolated before they could start any searches.
Witnesses described hearing a loud bang at the back of the house before it partially collapsed.
Thick clouds of smoke were seen coming from the back of the house while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
The team contained the fire to the ground floor of the house and it did not spread to adjoining properties.
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A man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was pulled to safety by two brave neighbours.
He was taken to hospital in an ambulance suffering from injuries to his head and hands.
A spokesman from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has described his condition as 'life-threatening'.
Michael Maunsell, 30, described the moment he helped pull the injured man to safety away from rubble surrounding the terraced property.
Watch: Gas explosion in Gorton
He told the M.E.N: “We heard a big explosion. We ran out of the house with our coats and trainers on. Everyone was out in the street.
“I could see over the wall where the explosion happened. We could see a guy trying to clamber over the rubble.
“I jumped over the wall, I kicked the back door down. He kept screaming he couldn’t see anything. I managed to bring him out in the front.
“He managed to clamber out of his kitchen. The whole back of the house has come away.”
Michael added: “You don’t think, you just do what you have to do, I couldn’t leave him there. I didn’t have time to think about it.”
Nyesha Farag, 36, who lives two houses away, said: “The whole house just exploded, I can’t explain it but my whole bedroom shook. There was stuff thrown everywhere. It was like something out of a film set. The neighbours came running out, people were shouting and screaming.
“Two neighbours ran over and pulled a guy out covered head to toe in blood. His fingers were missing.”
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GMFRS group manager Paul Etches, who is in charge of the incident, said the blast blew away a large part of the back of the house.
He said the explosion appears to have happened to the rear of the property but it is too early to speculate on whether it was caused by a cooker, boiler or another appliance.
He added: “Our Technical Response Unit is working to make the building safe as quickly as possible so firefighters can carry out a thorough search of the property.
“Abbey Hey Lane will remain closed for some time, which is affecting the 7, 168 and 169 bus routes.
“We’d like to thank residents for their patience while we work to resolve this incident.”
There are four fire engines, an aerial appliance and a number of specialist rescue units on the scene.
A dangerous building inspector is also at the scene due to the house collapse.
Abbey Hey Lane is currently closed between Constable Street and Vine Street.
