NSW: Hundreds return home after explosion scare

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
NSW: Hundreds return home after explosion scare

By Crystal Ja and Ilya Gridneff

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - Hundreds of holidaymakers and residents were forced from their
beds amid fears of a massive explosion early today, when bottles of highly flammable gas
were spotted in a burning vehicle on the NSW Central Coast.

Police found a stolen ute burning in the car park of Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club
at 4.30am (AEDT) and discovered oxyacetylene bottles in the tray of the vehicle.

Fearing the bottles would explode, they evacuated more than 200 people from 15 nearby
homes and the Kims Beach Hideaway hotel, and established a 200-metre exclusion zone.

A NSW fire brigade spokesman said the exclusion area, which included a no-fly zone
and a ban on marine craft, remained in place until a police robot established the bottles
were no longer dangerous.

At midday (AEDT), the spokesman said all residents had been cleared to return home,
while the flammable bottles had been moved to a new location where they would be kept
for 24 hours while they cooled completely.

Bob Yea, an owner of the nearby Toowoon Bay Van Park, said many people lived in the
area surrounding the surf club and beach, but there were fewer holidaymakers in the area
this year.

"In terms of business, it's been the worst I've seen it in 30 years. This is something
I don't need," Mr Yea told AAP.

Fire crews were called from The Entrance, Bateau Bay and Berkeley Vale, while Sydney
Bomb Squad police officers helped manage the incident.

AAP cj/hn/jl/mn

KEYWORD: EVACUATION NIGHTLEAD

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