Toddler narrowly escaped exploding manhole

An explosion in a manhole on a Birmingham street just missed a small child who was walking nearby. The explosion happened on Thursday lunchtime at Warwick Road, Acocks Green. The cause is still being established.



Video footage shows the child and two adults walking past the manhole immediately before the explosion. National Grid is investigating. West Midlands Fire and Rescue said the explosion had narrowly missed the child. "We got there this afternoon.

"We understand a nearby mains box was smoking prior to the incident, which may have caused two manhole covers to become dislodged," said a representative. "Fortunately - and amazingly - the family passing by weren't hurt. Utility companies are investigating who owns the manholes and the cause."


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A National Grid representative said such explosions did happen, but were "not common". "We have a team on site trying to find out whether there was gas involved in the explosion," she said. "We will remain there until we either find a gas escape or somebody can establish a cause."