Update: 2125hrs: Firefighters left the scene at 1830 hrs.
Gas and electricity engineers are now on site. Crews are standing by with one hose reel laid out as electricity engineers work to isolate the junction box which will allow Transco engineers to access the leaking main and ascertain the size of the leak.
Only five people have been evacuated as a result of this incident.
Firefighters are evacuating homes and shops in Tilbury after a gas leak and an electricity junction box short caused a manhole cover explosion.
Crews have requested the urgent attendance of Transco and electricity board engineers to deal with the leak and junction.
They have also requested police officers to deal with traffic in the area of the incident.
The officer in charge reports that crews have used a dry powder extinguisher to deal with the fire in junction box.
Tilbury – Calcutta Road is closed between Quebec Road and Montreal Road.
Use alternative routes.
