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UK flooding: Video shows gas explosion in Greater Manchester as floodwater ruptures pipes

Floodwater washed away a bridge, disturbing a gas main which then caused an explosion in the Greater Manchester town of Radcliffe.

Tuesday 29 December 2015 14:22 GMT

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Manchester gas fire

Video has emerged showing a gas explosion in the Greater Manchester town of Radcliffe. The incident took place at around 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

A small bridge across the River Irwell was washed away by rushing floodwater. In the process, the crumbling bridge is believed to have disturbed a gas main under the surface, setting off a series of explosions.

The footage above shows people gathered around filming the flames bursting out of the ruptured pipes, before fleeing the explosions.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the issue had been dealt with.

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

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1/17In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Members of Cleveland Mountain Rescue and soldiers from 2 Battalion The Duke of Lancasters Regiment evacuating people from the Queens Hotel in York city centre as the River Ouse floods on December 27, 2015

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Teams in Whalley evacuate villagers from their homes

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

A resident of Glenridding, which flooded for the third time this month, surveys the damage

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

The River Ouse, York, has burst its banks

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

A soldier from the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s regiment helps to sure up flood defences in Appleby, Cumbria, one of the areas worst affected by the floods

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Experts believe the cost of clearing up the most recent flooding could exceed £50m (PA)

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in York

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

A police helicopter photographed the extent of the flooding in York on 27 December.

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Flooding at Clifford's Tower in York on 27 December

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Flooding along York's Inner Ring Road on 27 December

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Water runs out of the Lowther pub in York on 27 December after the River Ouse bursts its banks in York city centre.

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Flooded streets in Dumfries, Scotland on 30 December

Getty

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

A car left submerged in floodwater in Newton Stewart, Scotland

PA

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Staff at the Worlds End bar in Dumfries Scotland desperately try to pump floodwater out of the building

PA

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

A man stands in the doorway of his cottage in the flooded town of Straiton in Scotland

PA

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Flooding in the village of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK

Floods hit the UK

Man wades through floodwater outside a fish and chip shop in Dumfries, Scotland

PA

As Storm Frank hits the United Kingdom, the Met Office has issued yellow warnings covering large parts of Scotland, North West England and Wales.

Gusts of 55-65mph are predicted across the next few days in western parts of UK with exposed areas experiencing winds of up to 70-80mph.

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