Several hundred people were able to return to their homes in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, yesterday afternoon after being forced to spend the night in a community hall because of a gas leak.
It is thought that a 30-tonne tank containing liquid petroleum gas in a farmyard ruptured due to the hot weather on Monday. Around 200 homes had to be evacuated after residents reported a strong gas smell on Monday night.
Fire officers managed to stem the source of the leak yesterday. The Fire Service's assistant area commander, Mr Walter Johnston, said the situation had been potentially very serious.
"It was a 30 to 40 ft bulk container with a gas leak at one end, but that has now been stopped. At the height of the operation there were 10 appliances here with around 60 to 70 personnel. It was potentially very dangerous. A gas cloud formed this morning and was moving, and if there had been a source of ignition you could have had a massive explosion with a serious potential for loss of life," he added.
