THREE PEOPLE HAVE been found dead and four people have been taken to hospital after an incident at a UK care home.

Emergency services are at the scene at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage in the south-west of the England, with remaining residents having been evacuated to a safe location.

An emergency gas services responder had earlier attended the home.

Dorset Police said the deaths are being treated as unexplained, with an investigation launched, but Gary Suttle, a Dorset Council councillor, told the PA news agency there is a “suspicion” that “this could be attributable to carbon monoxide but it has not been proven”.

The home, run by Agincare, has 48 residents, all elderly and some with dementia.

“The families of those who have died have been informed and the coroner has been notified,” police added.

“At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public.”

#BreakingNews | Please see our below statement following an incident at at a care home in Swanage this morning: pic.twitter.com/9R29COjuJg

— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) October 23, 2024

“We understand this incident will have a significant impact on the Swanage community and our thoughts are very much with the families of those who have sadly died at this extremely difficult time.”

Katie Lobban, a spokesperson for SGN, a gas distribution company, said they were called to Gainsborough Care Home earlier today as the national gas emergency service for the south of England.

She said engineers were sent to complete safety checks in the building, adding: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.”

Suttle also labelled the incident “tragic”.

He told PA: “Our condolences and sympathy are with those who have lost their lives in this tragic event.”

The councillor said evacuated care home residents were initially taken to All Saint’s Church, near the scene, and will be moved to other placements.

He told of local residents “kindly” coming into the church bringing blankets in acts of “great community support”.

People living near the scene in Ulwell Road saw residents being taken out of the building.

One man, who did not want to give his name, told PA: “They evacuated the care home, Gainsborough Care Home.

“They have taken all the patients out but the emergency services are still on the scene.”

He said he saw some residents being taken out in wheelchairs.

He estimated there were two fire engines, three to four police cars and around eight or nine ambulances at the scene, where the road remains closed.

With reporting by PA