A public inquest has been presented with the harrowing details of a catastrophic gas explosion that utterly obliterated a home in Swansea, claiming the life of a 68-year-old man.
The hearing at Swansea's civic centre was told that the force of the blast on Plasmarl's Park View on February 10th was so immense that the mid-terrace property effectively vanished, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation described by emergency services as one of the most severe they had ever witnessed.
A Community Shattered
The victim was identified as Keith Morris, a resident of the property. Senior coroner Colin Phillips stated that the explosion was of such magnitude that it not only destroyed Mr. Morris's home but also caused significant damage to several neighbouring properties, rendering them uninhabitable and displacing numerous residents.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and paramedics, described arriving at a scene of chaos, with debris scattered across a wide area and the mid-terrace house 'completely gone'.
Ongoing Investigation into the Cause
The inquest learned that a multi-agency investigation, involving the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the local gas network provider, is actively working to determine the precise cause of the leak that led to the explosion.
While the exact source has not been formally confirmed, the incident has focused attention on the safety of gas infrastructure. The coroner adjourned the inquest to allow these detailed technical investigations to be completed fully.
The tragedy has sent ripples of grief through the close-knit community of Plasmarl, with local councillors and community members speaking of their shock and offering support to all those affected by the devastating incident.
