Bedford Borough Council is continuing to work closely with colleagues from Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and other bodies, following the incident in Cleat Hill at the weekend.
One person is confirmed to have died in an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on Saturday morning.
A second person remains in hospital in a critical condition.
Shortly after the incident the Council set up an Emergency Assistance Centre for people who were evacuated from nearby homes, and is continuing to provide emergency accommodation for residents who require it.
Officers are liaising with residents to provide ongoing advice and support, and to establish how the Council can best assist with their needs. For safety reasons, we remain unable to arrange further visits to homes at present, but the authorities are prioritising the creation of an action plan to resolve this issue to enable residents to safely return to their premises to gather essential items. Police are also continuing to patrol the area.
Police officers remain at the scene and investigations into the cause of the explosion are on-going.
Bedford Borough Council has opened an advice and support centre, set up an emergency helpline for residents, and are sending updates to residents throughout each day.
Anyone who has been affected by Saturday’s incident and needs extra emotional support can call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 which is free and available 24/7.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton said; "I'm deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Cleat Hill. My thoughts are with the family, friends, and all those directly affected, as well as the wider local community.
“We are working closely with the emergency services and other partner organisations to provide any assistance needed, both at the scene and to residents who have been impacted.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire Police, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Bedford Borough Council, Cadent and our dedicated council staff for their swift and thorough response to this distressing event.
“We will continue to offer support as the emergency response progresses."