Fresh fears on street where girl, 4, died in blast as locals evacuated AGAIN over ‘ticking timebomb gas leak’
THE street where a four-year-old girl died in a gas explosion has been evacuated AGAIN over fresh fears of a “ticking timebomb gas leak”.
More than 100 people were evacuated from the area on Galpin’s Road, Thornton Heath, on Monday.
Gas engineers at work near the scene of an explosion on Galpin’s Road in Thornton Heath, south London[/caption] The explosion ripped through the property on Galpin’s Road at around 7am on Monday morning[/caption] More residents are currently being evacuated[/caption]Now dozens more have been told to flee their homes, where people have been “smelling gas for a week”.
A Merton Council spokesperson said: “Following further inspection by Health & Safety Executive on site this morning, the cordon is being extended to 200m & we are in the process of evacuating further homes on Galpin’s Road.
“Southern Gas Networks continue to work on site, and residents must stay away from the cordon area until it is safe to return.
“Council officers are working as hard as possible to help the 100-plus residents who have been evacuated, and will continue to do so today, as more homes are evacuated.
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“New Horizon Centre continues to act as our evacuation centre and is offering support including onward accommodation, financial help, food and emotional support.”
One person at the scene Tweeted: “Just been evacuated from my job on Galpins road. Gas still leaking and it’s getting worse.
“It’s spreading and they’re evacuating more houses. Police, gas & fire fighters running up and down the street getting people out.”
Residents of the road previously described sensing a “time bomb” in the days before the explosion due to the headache-inducing stench of gas in their homes.
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Four others were injured in the devastation after the terraced house in South London was razed to the ground as a blast sent debris flying hundreds of feet into the air.
Today it was revealed that the family of the deceased girl had called the gas company about a suspected leak but were “given an appointment.”
Close family friend Thoheed Maricar, 52, said: “Neighbours had reported the smell of gas for about a week.
“The family tried to get hold of the gas company but the gas company didn’t come straight away. They were given an appointment.
“I’ve not heard anything like this before. The mother couldn’t talk, to me, they are in that much pain. The whole family is in so much pain.”
It comes after locals told The Sun that gas works had been taking place for “four weeks”.
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Some residents at the cordon said they had reported a strong gas smell two weeks ago, and others said they had been feeling dizzy and sick over the last two days.
Others said engineers had been working on the street and digging holes in people’s homes in recent days to resolve the issue.