Dramatic pictures show full force of the Oxford explosion last night - as well as the aftermath of the wreckage today - as a number of people still remain 'missing'.

Rescuers continue to scour the rubble after a three-storey block of flats was raised to the ground in the blaze at around 5pm yesterday afternoon.

Several people are reportedly still unaccounted for - with police yet to comment on exact numbers 'missing'.

It is not yet known for certain whether anyone died in the explosion which shook the ground - but eyewitnesses say they saw people being dragged out from underneath the rubble.

The cause of the fire is also still unknown - with initial claims it had been a 'gas' explosion since denied.

Emergency services rushed to tackle the blaze in Oxford
Emergency services at first believed they were tackling a gas explosion

Around a dozen people were evacuated to nearby emergency accommodation overnight. Photos being posted online show the extent of the wreckage residents are coming home to.

Jenny Kitzinger posted on Twitter: "My dad's ok, but here's remains of his bedroom, so reminding all re. fire safety & smoke alarms today. + a HUGE thank you to @OxonFireRescue."

Two people were treated for minor injuries including a pregnant woman who was taken to hospital following the blast.

One man - understood to be the person spotted being rescued by a fireman on a ladder from an upstairs window - was treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire crew rescued at least one person from an upstairs window - and reportedly 'pulled people from rubble'
The blaze took hold of a three-storey block of flats quickly

When the blaze took hold at dusk last night, a massive fireball could be seen coming from the remains of the three-storey block of flats in Gibbs Crescent, Oxford.

The building is owned by housing association A2Dominion.

Huge flames and plumes of smoke were caught on camera with the force of the explosion causing several nearby boats in the marina to catch fire too.

Neighbours say they fear the blast may have been deliberate - which is yet to be confirmed.

Several people remain unaccounted for after the blaze

Police, fire and ambulance crews remain at the scene more than 15 hours after the explosion.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue confirmed two people sustained minor injuries - with one taken to hospital.

But a "small number" of people are still unaccounted for as rescue teams start to sweep the rubble.


Fire crew scoured the wreckage for potential victims through the night

An ambulance spokesman had earlier said it was a gas mains explosion - but that has been denied by authorities.

A statement released from SGN on Tuesday, gas distribution network company for the Oxford area said: "Following reports of an explosion in the Osney Lane and Gibbs Crescent area of Oxford, our engineers joined the emergency services on site this evening.

Boats nearby caught fire in the midst of the blaze

"While it's too early to speculate as to what has happened, we have confirmed there is no mains gas supply to the property affected."

Police have ruled out terrorism as the cause of the blast.

Eyewitness Alexander Hammonds, 43, who lives in nearby Osney Lane, took dramatic pictures of the aftermath of the explosion.

He said: "I was in my living room when I heard a massive double bang.

The blaze destroyed the three-storey building

"Personally I thought a lorry had overturned, so I looked out the window and saw massive plumes of smoke.

"I walked over the footbridge and from there I could see the flames from above the trees.

"I just started using my camera, I got stupidly close. I just went in, got as many photos as I could then left because I could hear all the sirens.

"I could smell all the furniture burning. I saw the tarpaulin of a boat on fire.

"There were a lot of sounds coming from the fire which was making me really nervous because it was an explosion and I didn't want to be around if there was another one."