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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Explosion cuts power to homes in Leicester | Explosion cuts power to homes in Leicester |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 100 homes are set to be without power for much of the day following an explosion at an electricity substation in Leicester. | More than 100 homes are set to be without power for much of the day following an explosion at an electricity substation in Leicester. |
| Fire crews put out a blaze at the site in the Sanvey Gate area of the city after the explosion was heard at about 02:00 BST. | Fire crews put out a blaze at the site in the Sanvey Gate area of the city after the explosion was heard at about 02:00 BST. |
| Police have set up an exclusion zone and nearby roads including the A6 St Margaret's Way have been closed. | |
| Western Power said it was working to restore the electricity supply. | Western Power said it was working to restore the electricity supply. |
| 'Bulging dangerous walls' | |
| Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said part of the 40-year-old substation would need to be demolished. | Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said part of the 40-year-old substation would need to be demolished. |
| A BBC reporter at the scene described seeing debris strewn across the road and a large crack down one side of the building. | A BBC reporter at the scene described seeing debris strewn across the road and a large crack down one side of the building. |
| Colin Randle, distribution manager for Western Power, blamed a "component failure" for causing the explosion, which he said had made the building unstable. | Colin Randle, distribution manager for Western Power, blamed a "component failure" for causing the explosion, which he said had made the building unstable. |
| He said engineers were working with emergency services to make the site safe and the latest estimate for a return of power was mid-afternoon. | He said engineers were working with emergency services to make the site safe and the latest estimate for a return of power was mid-afternoon. |
| Chris Moore, from Leicester City Council's buildings control team, said the work to restore power has now been delayed while the building is made safe to enter. | |
| He said: "Work has stopped at the moment, we've taken out the bulging dangerous walls caused by the explosion. | |
| "We need to take the concrete roof down for which we need some more specialist equipment to come to site to actually break the roof." | |
| Businesses have been affected by the power cut, with some unable to open. | |
| Geoff Giles, from Nedis UK, an electronics wholesaler located in Sanvey Gate, said he did not expect power to return until Tuesday. | Geoff Giles, from Nedis UK, an electronics wholesaler located in Sanvey Gate, said he did not expect power to return until Tuesday. |
| He said: "Without power we can't do anything. I'm relieved I wasn't in the building when the substation went up, it could have been a far lot worse." | He said: "Without power we can't do anything. I'm relieved I wasn't in the building when the substation went up, it could have been a far lot worse." |