The fire service says the blast may have been caused by gas
An investigation is continuing into an explosion which killed a young boy and destroyed two houses in Oldham.
Police say the death of the two-year-old, named locally as Jamie Heaton, is now being treated as suspicious.
The explosion in Buckley Street, Shaw, also left a 27-year-old man in hospital with burns.
About 50 residents were forced to spend the night in a nearby school and a relief fund has been set up to help those affected.
It is not thought the injured man, who was dragged out of the rubble, is related to the child who died.
The fund, which will help to cover costs that provide immediate relief to people, has been set up by the charity Forever Manchester on behalf of Greater Manchester local authorities.
'Alleged disturbance'House numbers 9 and 11 were destroyed in Tuesday morning's explosion and several other houses were also damaged.
Supt Neil Evans urged anyone with information about an alleged disturbance on Monday evening to contact police.
He said: "We are aware of some rumours within the local community about a potential domestic disturbance in the area last night.
"What I can categorically say is that if that is the case, the police were not called."
Speaking about the child's death, Mr Evans added: "His loved ones are absolutely distraught and we will provide them with whatever support we can at what is clearly a very difficult and upsetting time."
The scene was described as "catastrophic" by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's station manager Dean Nankivell. He said gas was a likely cause of the blast.
'Horrendous noise'Jackie Hunter, who lives six doors down from the blast, said she felt her house lift up.
She said: "I jumped up, my front door had gone in. so I ran out and dialled 999.
"It was just so frightening, the noise was horrendous, I've got nothing at the moment, just the clothes I'm currently stood in."
National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40 BST in the Edmund Street and Buckley Street area of Shaw.
The company added: "This was shortly followed by another call to report that there had been an explosion."
One hundred homes were evacuated and Oldham Council set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for residents removed from their homes.
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