Thermometer blamed for gas leak

Fire engines were sent to the scene

A serious gas leak that led to more than 200 homes being evacuated in County Tyrone was caused by a faulty thermometer, an investigation has uncovered.

People were moved from their homes in the Annaghmore Road area of Coalisland on Monday after gas leaked from a 30-tonne gas tank on a nearby farm.

The housing around the thermometer on the tank has been removed for examination by the Health and Safety Executive.

The executive's Chief Inspector, John Francey, said an initial examination of the equipment indicated that the gas escaped due to component failure.

I can confirm that the storage tank does not pose any risk to the public's health and safety

John Francey

"This component failure allowed LPG to issue from the storage tank in liquid form through an opening approximately 15 millimetres in diameter," he said.

"The mechanism of failure of the thermometer housing has not yet been determined and this will require a metallurgical examination which cannot be done until such time as the tank has been degassed and inerted.

"Whilst this investigation is ongoing, I can confirm that the storage tank does not pose any risk to the public's health and safety."

'Serious potential'

Rain and fog in the Annaghmore area helped dissipate a gas cloud which had formed on Tuesday morning, while senior fire officers said they had managed to stem the source of the leak.

Up to 10 fire engines and 70 officers fought for 16 hours to contain the situation which senior officers said held "serious potential for loss of life".

People returned to their homes on Tuesday afternoon.

A police spokesman said emergency services, the local authority and the Health and Safety Executive had been working through Monday night to stop the leak and make the area safe.