Three terrified families fled their Basildon homes after an underground gas pipe exploded sparking a blaze.
Watchful eye - firefighters at the scene in Basildon
A manhole in Brendon, Basildon, collapsed releasing flames following the explosion, prompting an evacuation of homes.
Firefighters were today monitoring the scene of the explosion over fears of a gas cloud from the fractured pipe. The blaze followed a series of explosions around 4pm yesterday.
Resident Cris Dumlao, 34, said: "It was really frightening. It's scary that our house is so close to the fire."
Published Thursday January 15, 2004
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