NI gas explosion prompts evacuations

Up to 100 people were forced to leave their homes following a gas explosion in Co Antrim.

Up to 100 people were forced to leave their homes following a gas explosion in Co Antrim.

Residents were evacuated for four hours last night as emergency services dealt with the incident on Station Road, Greenisland.

Firefighters and police were called after the explosion at around 10pm. Police later said the pipe may have been tampered with.

A spokeswoman said: "A concrete cover appears to have been removed and as a result of the fire a plastic pipe had melted, causing a metal valve to come loose and a jet of gas had ignited."

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She said detectives had removed a number of items for examination and were appealing for witnesses to come forward. About 50 houses were evacuated and the fire was extinguished by 2am.