Roads closed after electrical fire causes Barking ‘explosion’
Traffic is being diverted - Credit: Archant
An electrical fire underneath a manhole cover is believed to have caused a town centre explosion this morning.
George Street, Cambridge Road and Linton Road in Barking were closed off after an explosion - Credit: Archant
Three roads remain taped off outside Barking Enterprise Centre while workmen carry out rewiring.
Witnesses say they heard a “huge bang” in George Street at 10.15am.
Natalie Savage, 46, said: “It made me jump – I didn’t know what it was.
“I saw two guys walking across George Street and as they went to get in the road there was a huge bang and they jumped. It just came out of the ground – the smoke came up out of the ground.”
Florin Maxim, 32, was stood outside Barking Enterprise Centre in Cambridge Road, Barking, with her seven-month-old daughter Jessica Dobrea at the time.
“There was one explosion and a lot of smoke,” she said. “I was a little scared.”
Most Read
- 1 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee flypast: Where, and when, the planes will fly over north and east London
- 2 Travel bulletin: Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham
- 3 Cycling festival coming to Barking
- 4 Police appeal after intruder reportedly enters Barking home and threatens woman with knife
- 5 40 firefighters tackle Anchor Close blaze
- 6 Dagenham and West Ham accused in court after drugs raids
- 7 How many Covid patients are there in east London hospitals this week?
- 8 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 9 Savvy driver saves ducks who had strayed onto the A13
- 10 TfL consultation opens on plans to extend ULEZ into Greater London
Firefighters have closed off George Street, Linton Road and Cambridge Road westbound while the rewiring is carried out.
