Shopping centre evacuated as truck ruptures gas pipe

SHOPPERS fled in panic after a truck crashed into a gas pipe at a shopping centre, triggering a major emergency in Cork city at the weekend.

Blackpool shopping centre and several nearby homes were evacuated after the accident on Saturday night, amid concerns about an explosion.

The alarm was raised just after 6pm when a truck reversing in a delivery area at the shopping centre struck and ruptured a large gas pipe. Vast quantities of gas could be heard gushing out, and people fled in panic.