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A two-year-old boy who died in a suspected gas explosion in Oldham was watching television when the blast occurred next door, police said.
Jamie Heaton was in the living room as his mother was hanging washing out in the back yard. His death is being treated as suspicious.
Asst Ch Con Steve Heywood described the devastation as "horrendous".
Andrew Partington, 27, who suffered burns in the blast in Buckley Street, Shaw, is recovering in hospital.
Residents at up to 100 properties in the area were evacuated to a nearby rest centre at a local school.
A relief 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.
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.
Jackie Hunter, who lives six doors down from the explosion, 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."
Oldham Council set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for residents removed from their homes.
A Red Cross spokesman said nobody stayed there overnight, with people choosing to go to hotels or stay with relatives.
Councillor Jean Stretton, form Oldham Council, said the next immediate task is to assess the extent of the damage to properties which haven't been completely destroyed.
She said: "There will be people who will not be going back, more (properties) could be unsafe, so will either be demolished or repaired.
"What we are doing is looking to provide people with some financial support, we are looking to support them with insurance claims but the council will do what needs to be done."
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."
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