RESIDENTS and business were evacuated after a manhole cover exploded in a Tilbury street.
Firefighters from Orsett evacuated nearby homes and shops in Calcutta Road after a gas leak and a short-circut in a junction box caused the explosion at 2.30pm this afternoon.
Engineers from Transco and the electricity board were scrambled to the scene to deal with the leak and the junction box.
Police officers sealed off the road in both directions as engineers and firefighters worked quickly to deal with the incident.
Crews used a dry powder extinguisher to put out the fire in the junction box.
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