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| 'Children hit pipes' before blast | 'Children hit pipes' before blast |
| (about 4 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 residents have returned to their homes. | |
| 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. |
| Flames leap into the air above the wrecked footbridge at Abercanaid | |
| The fire burned for about 20 hours before it was brought under control on Saturday afternoon. | |
| The company said its engineers would work continuously until the gas main is repaired, and thanked local people "for their patience and understanding". | |
| Cardiff Road will remain shut, and is due to reopen on Monday morning. | |
| The fire service had evacuated nearby properties as a precaution, and most people stayed overnight with family and friends. | |
| 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. | |
| "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. |
| The company said engineers had been "drafted in from all over Wales and the south west of England" and 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. | |
| Temporary rest centre | |
| "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. |
| Kids were seen there last night pulling and banging and damaging these pipes. We can't prove anything... but these fires don't start on their own Brent Carter, councillor | |
| "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." |
| Residents were given the option on Friday of staying at a temporary rest centre in St Peter and St Paul church hall. | |
| A local councillor, Brent Carter, said children had been seen hitting the pipes before the fire. | |
| "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." |
| Mr Carter said later: "Kids were seen there last night pulling and banging and damaging these pipes. We can't prove anything, it's all speculation, I suppose, but these fires don't start on their own." | |
| 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 |