An explosion which claimed the life of one man and put another three people in hospital was so loud that the blast was recorded on a residential security camera two and a half miles away. The huge explosion happened in Clydach Road in the Morriston area of the city at around 11.20am on Monday.
One man died as a result of the incident while two adults and one teenage boy were rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital. One house was totally destroyed and another sustained substantial damage. Other nearby properties were also damaged, with residents were forced to evacuate the area as the emergency services started an investigation into the cause of the blast and specialists began a huge clean-up operation.
Footage from a security camera captured the scale of the explosion with a loud bang being clearly heard even though it was recorded more than two miles away from Clydach Road. In the footage the tranquil chirping of the birds on the quiet street is dramatically pierced by the thunderous sound of the explosion.
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On Tuesday the man who died in the blast was named by police as 68-year-old Brian Davies after formal identification took place. His family are being supported by specially-trained police officers. Detective inspector Carl Price of South Wales Police said: “Our thoughts remain with Brian’s family and friends, at what is a very difficult time for them, and those who have been injured following the explosion. Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the incident and these inquiries are being carried out in partnership with relevant agencies including the Health and Safety Executive. The patience and understanding of local residents on Clydach Road, and the wider community in Morriston, is very much appreciated while this work remains ongoing.”
One of those injured in the blast was 14-year-old Ethan Bennett. He and his mother Claire were taken to hospital. Ethan’s father, Anthony Bennett, told BBC Wales: “Ethan just remembers the explosion going and him being thrown up against the ceiling and hitting [it]. Next thing he knows he seems to be outside. Not sure if he lost consciousness or not. Part of the roof was under him and part of the roof was on top of him. The guy who lives a couple of doors down ran across to check on Claire and then he dragged Ethan out. He carried Ethan off the roof to get him out. “
On Tuesday emergency services and engineers were at the scene in Morriston with Clydach Road remaining closed. You can see the scale of the clear-up operation in these pictures. The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.
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