The closest thing to a bomb I’ve ever heard

The closest thing to a bomb I’ve ever heard

24 May 2017

AN investigation is underway after workmen narrowly escaped injury in a sudden explosion on the outskirts of Downpatrick on Monday night.

Several men who were working on installing a new gas pipeline on the Belfast Road were visibly shaken after the blast occurred as pressurised air was released into the system to test the viability of the new pipeline.

One workman said afterwards the blast, which lifted a 20 foot section of the road, was “the closest thing to a bomb I have ever heard”.

Phoenix Gas has been installing a new pipeline network in east Down for several months and the work being carried out between Crossgar and Downpatrick is one of the major pipelines into the area.

Around 6.30pm on Monday night pressurised air was released into the new pipeline as part of routine tests which caused the substantial blast. Speculation at the scene of the blast was that welding on one of the pipes failed allowing a sudden release of the pressurised air.

The Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene because of initial fears the explosion may have been caused by a gas leak.

However, Fire Service group commander, Keith Black, said they quickly realised there was no gas at the scene and left within 20 minutes after being informed the explosion happened during routine testing.

“The call was initially treated as a gas explosion but soon after we arrived we realised pressure testing was being carried out,” he said.

The PSNI closed the Belfast Road immediately after the explosion and it remained closed for several hours until the on-scene investigation was complete and repairs had been carried out by Phoenix Gas contractors.

A spokesman for Phoenix Gas confirmed the explosion had been caused by a release of pressurised air.

Mr Brendan Mulgrew said nobody had been injured in the incident and added that the road was reopened soon after.

“Pipes are being laid to bring gas to South Down. There is no gas in the system and the explosion was caused by the release of pressurised air,” he said.

“Emergency services were quickly on site, but nobody was hurt or evacuated from homes or businesses. The road was reopened soon after with a stop and go traffic system.”