London Fire Brigade Recovers Body From Ruins After Storm Triggers House Fire, Roof Collapsed, Neighbors Evacuated

London, United Kingdom— Fire ripped through a house as the storm hit. Rescuers recovered a body from the wreckage Tuesday morning after the property was severely destroyed. The London Fire Brigade said the call came in during high winds.

The blaze broke out in a semi-detached house in southeast London. Neighbors reported a loud bang and then flames. Wind gusts over 70 mph pushed the fire through the roof in minutes. The structure collapsed before crews could get inside.

Firefighters arrived to find the house fully alight. Two neighboring properties were evacuated. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were deployed. They fought the fire for more than two hours. The storm made ladders and hose work difficult.

Once the flames were down, search teams entered. They found the victim on the ground floor. The brigade did not release identity or age. Police sealed the site. A forensic examination was ordered. The cause is not yet known.

"We were faced with extremely challenging conditions," a London Fire Brigade station commander said. "The wind was driving fire through the property. Our crews worked to prevent spread to adjoining houses."

Residents said the power flickered before the fire. One neighbor said she heard roof tiles falling. Another said he smelled gas. Those accounts have not been confirmed by officials. The brigade said its fire investigators will work with police and the energy supplier.

The storm had already brought down trees and power lines across London. The Met Office had warned of strong winds and rain. Several roads were closed. The brigade said it received more than 200 weather-related calls overnight.

Council officers visited the street to assess structural safety. Two families were told not to return until checks were done. A rest center was opened nearby. The damaged house is now a shell. Charred beams and collapsed walls are visible from the road.

An investigation is underway to determine if the storm caused an electrical fault or gas leak that led to the blaze.