CCTV footage has captured the moment a pavement exploded in Boston, Lincolnshire, after an underground electrical fire, narrowly missing pedestrians.
The video from August 20 shows pavement slabs outside the Bond Street car park being sent flying into the air before flames erupted from underneath the footpath. Two people crossing the street seconds before the blast narrowly avoided being caught up in the incident, while a car drove past at the moment of the explosion, which dislodged a manhole cover.
Road closed after blast
Boston Borough Council released the footage on its Facebook page, with Boston Police closing the road due to 'flames coming from underneath a footpath'. Despite the dramatic scenes, the council confirmed there were no injuries. The street was closed after the explosion while emergency services dealt with the incident.
CCTV team praised
Sharing the footage, Boston Borough Council explained that the incident highlights the important role its CCTV team plays in helping keep communities safe. 'No two days are ever the same,' its post began. 'Last Thursday, CCTV operators captured an underground electrical fire on West Street. Thankfully, nobody was injured, and our partner agencies were soon on the scene.'
It added: 'Behind the scenes, operators work around the clock to provide real-time information to emergency services and partner organisations, supporting rapid responses to incidents as they unfold.'
