Annopol. The explosion in the canal tore off manhole covers. They are injured

The explosion occurred during work in one of the sanitary sewers near the tram terminus under construction in Annopol – at the intersection of Annopol and Inowłodzka streets. Firefighters and city services arrived at the scene.

At. 19:15 The State Fire Service completed its operations. The area has been secured and is being monitored by the police. “The services operating on site assessed that there is no threat to residents,” the city hall said in a statement.

At 8 p.m., car and rail traffic in the area of ​​the incident was resumed. Trams returned to their basic routes.

The effects of the incident are being removed. City services are still working on site.

– Preliminary information shows that the explosion occurred during welding works. It led to the removal of sewage manhole covers. Three people were injured and are under the care of the emergency medical team, said senior midshipman Bogdan Smoter from the capital’s fire brigade just before 5 p.m.

The firefighter said after 7 p.m. that after double checking with meters in the sewage system, in nearby buildings and in critical points, no dangerous concentrations were detected and the situation would slowly return to normal. 16 fire brigades and two operational groups of firefighters – provincial and municipal – took part in the action. He added that other services were also on site – the gas emergency service, MPWiK services and the police.

When asked about the cause of the explosion, he explained that it was impossible to clearly determine what substance it was – whether it was, for example, methane. – The sewage system is being rebuilt here, sewage is being pumped, bypassing the part being processed. It’s hard to talk about details at the moment, he explained.

Jolanta Maliszewska, deputy spokeswoman of the Municipal Water and Sewage Company in Warsaw, told “Gazeta Wyborcza” that nearby the Annopol loop under construction, along the same-sounding street – at the height of Inowłodzka crossing Annopol – there was an explosion in one of the chambers, and gas escaped from several wells.

Tramwaje Warszawskie reported before 7 p.m. that the accident occurred before 4 p.m., at 4 Annopol Street. A depot and an entrance to it are being built there. – Preliminary information shows that there was a fire in the sewage pumping station and, consequently, an explosion in the sewage system – said Maciej Dutkiewicz, spokesman for Tramwaje Warszawskie.

He said that four people were helped, including one at the scene of the incident. – Three people were taken to hospital. One is in serious condition due to burns. These are people working on the construction of the Annopol depot – explained Dutkiewicz.

The injured were working in the sewer while welding, one of them suffered severe burns to the upper respiratory tract.

He noted that the exact causes of the explosion are not yet known.

We asked the police about the situation in Annopol. – Three people were taken to hospital. Vehicular traffic was suspended on Marywilska and Odlewnicza streets. The police directed diversions, Małgorzata Wersocka from the Warsaw Police Headquarters said around 6 p.m.

The following streets were closed: Annopol to Odlewnicza, Odlewnicza to Marywilska and Rembielińska to Kondratowicza.

Mateusz Szmelter, a reporter for tvnwarszawa.pl, was on site. – A large part of the area has been fenced off. The streets north of the S8 route are closed. There is no entry to Annopol Street from Rembielińska and Bazylińska. Crosswalks that were functioning for pedestrians are closed. It is impossible to cross along Annopol Street to the other side, to Inowłodzka Street. Pedestrians who want to get there must find another way. It is also impossible to go towards the Żerański Canal – a reporter reported after 6 p.m.