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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Homes evacuated after explosion | Homes evacuated after explosion |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fifty homes have been evacuated following a gas main explosion near a railway station. | |
| South Wales Police said emergency services have been dealing with the incident at Alexander Place, Abercanaid, in Merthyr Tydfil. | |
| Evacuated residents have been given the option to stay at a temporary rest centre in a church hall. | |
| There are no reports of any injuries and it is not thought that properties have been damaged. | There are no reports of any injuries and it is not thought that properties have been damaged. |
| Police said initial reports suggested that 30ft (9m) high flames could be seen as gas escaped from a main close to Pentrebach railway station. | |
| South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which also said a gas main was involved, has sent two fire engines. | |
| You can't get within 150 yards - the flames are really big Councillor Brent Carter | |
| A spokeswoman said the gas main was "well alight" and that crews would be on the scene for most of the night. | A spokeswoman said the gas main was "well alight" and that crews would be on the scene for most of the night. |
| She added: "At the moment we have safety jets deployed in the area. Nobody has been injured. | She added: "At the moment we have safety jets deployed in the area. Nobody has been injured. |
| "There has been a cordon placed around the mains for safety. It is not known what caused the explosion at this stage." | "There has been a cordon placed around the mains for safety. It is not known what caused the explosion at this stage." |
| Evacuated residents have been given the opportunity to stay at the St Peter and St Paul church hall in Chapel Street, Abercanaid. | |
| Councillor Brent Carter, who has been at the scene, said: "The flames are 30ft in the air. It's the main gas pipe going under and across the railway station. | |
| "It's all gone up and the gas can't be just knocked off. They've got to leave it burn out, I was told. | |
| "There's police everywhere and you can't get in anywhere. You can't get within 150 yards - the flames are really big. | |
| "I've been in the church hall and there's nobody there. They've gone to stay with relatives." |