Merton Council has said it is “working closely with every family to help them into long-term accommodation” after dozens of evacuated residents are living in a hotel six months after a gas explosion in Thornton Heath.

More than 500 people were evacuated from Galpin’s Road after a blast destroyed a terraced house and killed four-year-old Sahara Salman shortly after 7am on August 8.

Three other people were seriously injured in the south London incident, including an 11-year-old boy and a 54-year-old woman.

These evacuations were due to extensive damage to properties and safety fears, and residents have said “around eight families” remain in hotels.

Three houses were completely destroyed by the blast, with many more needing “significant building work”.

There are now currently 29 households living in temporary accommodation and the council said it expects 12 of these to have returned home by the end of February.

The costs to the council currently exceed £2.5 million, including support for the residents throughout the whole six-month period.

Their MP, Siobhain McDonagh, has criticised the Government for offering “very little help” to residents – after she previously highlighted how Sahara’s mother was left sleeping on the floor 10 weeks after the tragedy.

Labour MP Ms McDonagh, who represents Mitcham and Morden, said the financial burden of helping residents affected by the blast has largely been left on the local council.

She said: “In spite of assurances in the debate I got in the House of Commons, there has actually been very little help given by the Government to the local council.

“When the explosion happened, it was the council that tried to place 500 people overnight in temporary accommodation.

“It’s an enormous task and I think the Government should have a bigger role to play.”

A spokesman for Merton Council said: “The severe damage caused to some homes, as well as the area being cordoned off until late October during the police investigation, has meant that some families are still unable to return home, and in some cases residents have been unable to start insurance claims as their homes remained cordoned off.

“It may be some time before they are able to go home because of the major works required, and some have chosen not to return home, or else a return to their property will not be possible given the scale of the damage.

“We are working closely with every family to help them into long-term accommodation and continue to have a dedicated team supporting all those affected.”