A man has been taken to hospital after an explosion involving a gas canister. There is also said to be "structural damage" to a house in Ammanford following the blast.
Emergency services were called to a property in Derlyn Park, Tycroes, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, at about 5.20pm on Wednesday (February 1). Pictures from the scene show the front window of the property appears to have been blown out, with damage to the render, and signs of damage to the side of the house as well.
The explosion is not linked to the mains network and Wales and West Utilities said it was a gas canister which exploded. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said three crews were sent to the scene. You can get more Carmarthenshire news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
A Wales and West Utilities spokesman said: "On arrival, we found that there had been structural damage to the property and the emergency services were in control of the scene. We worked with the emergency services to make the area safe and carried out all necessary gas safety checks - no gas leaks have been detected on the gas mains in the local area."
Gareth Llewylyn, 65, lives on Derlyn Park a few doors down from where the explosion happened. He was at his home when he heard a loud bang. “I heard this hell of an explosion and thought what was that.” When he looked out the window he saw the damage to his neighbour's home. “All I could see was the front window had been completely blown out and I could see neighbours closer to the property move across the road.”
He said that within 10 minutes, two fire engines had arrived on the scene. He added that some tiles had come off the roof and the chimney appeared to be slanted.
Peter, who did not share his surname, aged 77, lives next door to the property where the explosion took place and said it was hard to describe the sound of the bang. “It’s almost like the door was scuffing. I thought something had dropped in the kitchen. I looked out and saw the window hanging out," he said. “I went round and as I go round, our opposite neighbours went up the drive and it was just a mess.
“I was just asking if he was okay, I think he was a bit confused. We don’t really know what had happened. I suggested that he get out of the house. There was a huge concrete lintel that we were trying to move but it was too heavy.” Peter said his neighbour was then able to get out through another door and emergency services were called. The neighbour was sat in a chair outside for a couple hours before he was taken to hospital, he said.
Peter was also concerned the slanted chimney could fall and damage his property but he said the fire service helped to remove it. Peter’s partner Angela, 74, who also did not share her second name, said it was a frightening and traumatic experience.
The exact cause of the blast is being investigated. You can read more stories about Ammanford here.
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