Walsall power outages after 'huge explosion' near M6 - with crews tackling gas cylinders fire
Rolling blackouts hit the Walsall area following what is described as the sound of a "huge explosion" that rocked houses - with firefighters called to tackle blazing gas cylinders.
West Midlands Fire Service said it was dealing with a fire in Bentley, near junction 10 of the M6, believed to be close to the site of the former Showcase Cinema, involving gas cylinders.
Reports flooded in of a bright orange flash in the sky over Junction 9 around 5.10pm, followed by a huge rumble, and then rolling blackouts. National Grid confirmed power was restored around 7pm and the power cut was caused by exploding cannisters which blew "a door" into a substation.
In a video posted to Twitter, alarms can be heard as a result of the mass power outage.
One Twitter user reported a "massive orange light in the sky followed by a loud bang", with others reporting of ambulances and police cars heading towards Walsall.
The nearby Boundary Outlet had to be evacuated.
Lily Cross, part time employee at Boundary Outlet, said: “I was sitting in the staffroom around 5pm this evening when there was this massive flash from outside and a huge bang that shook the foundations of the building.”
“We were then left in total darkness, we were all terrified honestly, we didn’t know what to think, and there was so much panic.”
She added: “It’s all a bit blurry after that, me and my colleagues just knew we had to get ourselves and our customers out, many elderly usually shop there and their safety was paramount.”
West Midlands Fire Service tweeted: "We're dealing with an outdoor fire in #Bentley, near junction 10 of the #M6, which may be visible from the motorway.
"Thank you to everyone who's called 999.
"The fire's on wasteland and involves some gas cylinders, which our crews are currently cooling down."
Traffic lights and street lights throughout Walsall were still down at 6.45pm.
Express & Star reporter Daniel Walton said: "There are whole roads around Junction 9 and Junction 10 of the M6 which have no power. Street lights and traffic lights are down. The only traffic lights which are working are temporary ones. There are several traffic lights down on the Wolverhampton Road."
National Grid, the energy provider, sent text messages to affected areas alerting them to work to fix the blackouts. The National Grid said the power cuts affect WS10, WS2, WS3, WV12 and WV13 postcodes.
However, just before 7pm National Grid confirmed power had been restored. It tweeted: "We're pleased to say that all power supplies to #Walsall #Dalaston #Willenhall #WS2 #WS10 #WV13 and surrounding areas are restored. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the power cut."
National Grid confirmed the incident had been caused by gas cannisters exploding on waste ground.
However, shortly after National Grid tweeted power had been restored. They tweeted: "It was gas cannisters that caught fire (or were set on fire) on wasteland between our substation & the old cinema. Something (a door?) was blown into our 132kv substation & caused the system to short."
Walsall resident Jay Price saw the moment of the explosion, which happened around 5.10pm.
He tweeted: "There was a massive orange flash in the sky followed by a loud bang. Might have been some sort of explosion."
Ben Miller added: "Saw the explosion in the distance when I was by the RAC centre."
There has been no reports of any casualties due to the "explosion".
Additional reporting by Adam Smith
