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Birmingham manhole explosion 'just missed' child Birmingham manhole explosion 'just missed' child
(about 22 hours later)
An explosion in a manhole on a Birmingham street "just missed" a child who was walking nearby, the fire service has said.An explosion in a manhole on a Birmingham street "just missed" a child who was walking nearby, the fire service has said.
The explosion happened at 12:21 GMT at Warwick Road, Acocks Green, the service said. The cause is still being established. The explosion happened at 12:21 GMT at Warwick Road, Tyseley, the service said. The cause is still being established.
Video footage posted by West Midlands Fire and Rescue shows a child and two adults walking past the manhole immediately before the explosion.Video footage posted by West Midlands Fire and Rescue shows a child and two adults walking past the manhole immediately before the explosion.
National Grid is investigating.National Grid is investigating.
The fire service said the explosion had "narrowly" missed the child.The fire service said the explosion had "narrowly" missed the child.
"We got there this afternoon. We understand a nearby mains box was smoking prior to the incident, which may have caused two manhole covers to become dislodged," said a representative."We got there this afternoon. We understand a nearby mains box was smoking prior to the incident, which may have caused two manhole covers to become dislodged," said a representative.
"Fortunately - and amazingly - the family passing by weren't hurt. Utility companies are investigating who owns the manholes and the cause.""Fortunately - and amazingly - the family passing by weren't hurt. Utility companies are investigating who owns the manholes and the cause."
A National Grid representative said such explosions did happen, but were "not common".A National Grid representative said such explosions did happen, but were "not common".
"We have a team on site trying to find out whether there was gas involved in the explosion," she said."We have a team on site trying to find out whether there was gas involved in the explosion," she said.
"We will remain there until we either find a gas escape or somebody can establish a cause.""We will remain there until we either find a gas escape or somebody can establish a cause."