An explosion occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 26 in downtown Wheatley in the area of Talbot Road East and Elm Street. The Pogue Irish Pub was said by witnesses to have been destroyed. Windows on nearby buildings were shattered. Surrounding buildings were damaged. Debris could be found a block away.

Three people have been sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Evacuation of homes and businesses was set in motion. Residents near the scene who had not been evacuated were advised to be prepared to leave.

There had been two states of emergency declared earlier this year, one in June and the other in July, concerning the discovery of naturally occurring hydrogen sulphide gas leak in that area.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, monitoring devices had indicated the presence of gas at that location, and a 911 call was initiated. The alert led to the beginning evacuation. The buildings in close proximity to the alarm had been evacuated and a wider evacuation had begun, when the explosion occurred, approximately an hour and a half after the alert.

By 6:30 pm emergency crews had been called. The Provincial Hazmat Team and Urban Search & Rescue, as well as Chatham-Kent EMS and Essex-Windsor EMS appeared on the scene.

The area of evacuation includes businesses and homes on Walker, Elm, Little, Victoria, Julian, Chestnut and Buchanan streets. Wheatley Arena has been set up for those who are in need of housing due to the explosion. City transportation is available.

Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay