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| 'Children hit pipes' before blast | 'Children hit pipes' before blast |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A gas main explosion and fire which led to the evacuation of 50 homes and the collapse of a footbridge might not have been an accident, it has emerged. | A gas main explosion and fire which led to the evacuation of 50 homes and the collapse of a footbridge might not have been an accident, it has emerged. |
| Wales and West Utilities (WWU) says the cause of Friday night's blast in Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, is unclear, but "nothing can be ruled out". | Wales and West Utilities (WWU) says the cause of Friday night's blast in Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, is unclear, but "nothing can be ruled out". |
| It says "third party interference" may be involved. There are reports of children hitting the pipes beforehand. | It says "third party interference" may be involved. There are reports of children hitting the pipes beforehand. |
| The fire has now been put out and the gas main "successfully isolated". | |
| The fire service evacuated nearby properties as a precaution, and most people stayed overnight with family and friends. | The fire service evacuated nearby properties as a precaution, and most people stayed overnight with family and friends. |
| WWU said it expected residents to be allowed to return by Saturday evening. | |
| Trains heading north towards Merthyr Tydfil could initially go only as far as Merthyr Vale, but the line was given the go-ahead to reopen on Saturday afternoon. | |
| WWU said it was alerted at 1950 GMT on Friday that a medium pressure gas main had been damaged and ignited at Cardiff Road. | WWU said it was alerted at 1950 GMT on Friday that a medium pressure gas main had been damaged and ignited at Cardiff Road. |
| "The cause of the damage is, at this time, unclear but nothing can be ruled out - including the possibility of third party interference," the company said in a statement. | "The cause of the damage is, at this time, unclear but nothing can be ruled out - including the possibility of third party interference," the company said in a statement. |
| "WWU engineers have worked throughout the night to try to isolate the damaged main and bring the situation under control but conditions, including the collapse of the footbridge, have hindered progress." | "WWU engineers have worked throughout the night to try to isolate the damaged main and bring the situation under control but conditions, including the collapse of the footbridge, have hindered progress." |
| The company said engineers "drafted in from all over Wales and the south west of England, will be working in Aberfan to isolate and make safe gas supplies". | The company said engineers "drafted in from all over Wales and the south west of England, will be working in Aberfan to isolate and make safe gas supplies". |
| It added: "We will be working closely with the local authority to ensure that the community, particularly vulnerable people, are provided with alternative heating and cooking facilities. | It added: "We will be working closely with the local authority to ensure that the community, particularly vulnerable people, are provided with alternative heating and cooking facilities. |
| "Our engineers will also be going from house to house with letters containing these contact details and further information. | "Our engineers will also be going from house to house with letters containing these contact details and further information. |
| "We are also working to ensure that gas supplies are maintained to some 1,700 properties in the Merthyr Vale and Pentrebach areas who are also supplied by this gas main. | "We are also working to ensure that gas supplies are maintained to some 1,700 properties in the Merthyr Vale and Pentrebach areas who are also supplied by this gas main. |
| Temporary rest centre | Temporary rest centre |
| "We are asking for the co-operation of local people in these areas in using gas as sparingly as possible over the next few days to protect ongoing supplies." | "We are asking for the co-operation of local people in these areas in using gas as sparingly as possible over the next few days to protect ongoing supplies." |
| Vaughan Jenkins, of the fire service, said on Saturday morning: "With the fire burning we can see where the flames are, and obviously we don't want to extinguish it until Wales and West Utilities have isolated the supply obviously due to the danger of the gas and any further explosion then. | Vaughan Jenkins, of the fire service, said on Saturday morning: "With the fire burning we can see where the flames are, and obviously we don't want to extinguish it until Wales and West Utilities have isolated the supply obviously due to the danger of the gas and any further explosion then. |
| "There's a footbridge that leads from Pentrebach across to Abercanaid which is collapsed due to the ferocity of the fire but apart from that there hasn't been any damage." | "There's a footbridge that leads from Pentrebach across to Abercanaid which is collapsed due to the ferocity of the fire but apart from that there hasn't been any damage." |
| Residents were given the option of staying at a temporary rest centre in St Peter and St Paul church hall. | Residents were given the option of staying at a temporary rest centre in St Peter and St Paul church hall. |
| A local councillor, Brent Carter, said on Friday night that the hall emptied as people went to stay with with friends and family. | A local councillor, Brent Carter, said on Friday night that the hall emptied as people went to stay with with friends and family. |
| He added: "Apparently kids were seen banging the pipes before it happened. It is a big shock for the area, especially if it is mindless. | He added: "Apparently kids were seen banging the pipes before it happened. It is a big shock for the area, especially if it is mindless. |
| "We are having problems down there all the time. Perhaps the police will now sit up and take notice if it was the kids that caused this." | "We are having problems down there all the time. Perhaps the police will now sit up and take notice if it was the kids that caused this." |
| People in Aberfan can call a helpline on 029 20278901, and Merthyr council has a contact number for residents with special requirements on 01685 725336. | People in Aberfan can call a helpline on 029 20278901, and Merthyr council has a contact number for residents with special requirements on 01685 725336. |
| Are you in Merthyr Tydfil? Did you witness the explosion and the aftermath? Send us your stories and your pictures. | Are you in Merthyr Tydfil? Did you witness the explosion and the aftermath? Send us your stories and your pictures. |
| Send your video and pictures to newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your video and pictures to newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| Your comments received so far: | Your comments received so far: |
| I was out in the street 600 metres away, walking to my car when I heard the pipe rupture and explode. I obviously didn't know it at that time, and thought it was Bonfire Night kicking off early again! It sounded like someone had taken about a dozen boxes of fireworks and dropped a match into them all at the same time. I looked over the houses opposite towards the park, where the kids generally set off the fireworks early and thought no more of it. By the time I had driven to the top of the village, a police car had already blocked off the main road down the valley. The fireball was huge and the flames were raging. Fair play to all of the emergency services for securing the area around it so quickly and ensuring the safety of the locals. I've heard that no-one was injured - which isn't short of miraculous - as many people of all ages use the footbridge across the Taff which is alongside this gas main. Had anyone been caught in the explosion they would have stood little or no chance on that bridge or on the paths that lead to it. I know now is not a time for speculation, but if it was vandalism as reported by a local councillor, then those responsible should count themselves very lucky to be alive. | I was out in the street 600 metres away, walking to my car when I heard the pipe rupture and explode. I obviously didn't know it at that time, and thought it was Bonfire Night kicking off early again! It sounded like someone had taken about a dozen boxes of fireworks and dropped a match into them all at the same time. I looked over the houses opposite towards the park, where the kids generally set off the fireworks early and thought no more of it. By the time I had driven to the top of the village, a police car had already blocked off the main road down the valley. The fireball was huge and the flames were raging. Fair play to all of the emergency services for securing the area around it so quickly and ensuring the safety of the locals. I've heard that no-one was injured - which isn't short of miraculous - as many people of all ages use the footbridge across the Taff which is alongside this gas main. Had anyone been caught in the explosion they would have stood little or no chance on that bridge or on the paths that lead to it. I know now is not a time for speculation, but if it was vandalism as reported by a local councillor, then those responsible should count themselves very lucky to be alive. |
| Richard | Richard |