Firefighters say two people have been killed in a suspected gas explosion in west London.
There are no details of the fatalities yet, though a child and four adults were rescued following the blast in King Street, Southall, on Wednesday morning.
Emergency workers are involved in a “complex” search for anyone who may still be inside the collapsed building.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) station commander Paul Morgan said: “We can confirm that sadly two people have died at the scene.
“It has been a painstaking and protracted incident with firefighters working systematically to stabilise the building and search for people involved.
“Operations have been concluded for the evening and will restart in the morning.”
The explosion caused substantial damage to the shop and structural damage throughout.
A further 14 adults and two children self-evacuated from surrounding properties shortly after the blast.
Crews were called just before 6.40am, with six fire engines and around 40 firefighters sent to the scene.
Another LFB spokesperson said the windows of the shop were “completely blown out” in the incident, adding: “It’s caused extensive damage to the shop and structural damage to the flats above.”
The Metropolitan Police said the incident is not being treated as suspicious and is believed to be a gas explosion.
The force said: “A large explosion was found to have taken place inside a shop. One man was found injured.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said they had treated and discharged one person.