Search for trapped Sydney woman ends in tragedy
The search for a woman in her 30s caught in the middle of an explosion in Western Sydney has ended in tragedy.
Jasmin Mhey was the only person unaccounted for after a townhouse in Western Sydney was destroyed in an explosion on Saturday afternoon, caused by a suspected gas leak.
Now, more than 30 hours after the blast, search and rescue teams on Monday confirmed they had located the body of a woman, who has yet to be formally identified.
The frantic search for Ms Mhey began on Saturday after the explosion, but was hampered by wet weather.
On Monday morning, police confirmed in a statement that the body of a woman had been found.
“Following an extensive search operation over the weekend, the body of a woman was found about 3.20am on Monday at the scene," the statement said.
“The woman is yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.”
Neighbours on Sunday told of how the missing woman’s mother reacted when she found out her daughter was caught up in the blast.
“She broke out crying a couple of times,” neighbour Evelyn said.
“But then she kept saying, ‘my daughter’s strong, my daughter’s strong, my daughter’s strong’.”
Emergency services are yet to establish what caused the blast, which will be subject to a NSW Police investigation, although police were initially called to the area to reports of a gas explosion.
Image credits: 7News