Terrified pedestrians reported hearing a ‘loud deep explosion’ in Sheffield this morning.
Andrea Kirkpatrick was walking past at the time said that pedestrians were left stunned. She said: “There was a loud bang/explosion, and everyone stopped dead on the street. “Then there was a weird roaring and gushing noise and flames shot up from the manhole cover.
Emergency services rushed to Glossop Road in Sheffield this morning after flames burst out from the ground in front of the Co-Op store.
University security were on the scene and tried to stop the traffic and within 10 minutes the fire brigade arrived.
Nadia Powell was driving past at the time and said: “We heard a loud deep explosion. Looking downhill we saw thick black smoke billowing. We moved down the hill and there was a flame at time about 6ft tall from ground level”.
Police were also quick to arrive and control the traffic and reduce injury or any further problems.
A number of roads were closed off, including Glossop Road and Clarkson Street. The police urged people to avoid the area.
The Police have confirmed that that the cause of the ‘explosion’ was an underground electrical fire.
