Residents from Wingate Crescent, Moys Close, and other roads near Mitcham Common faced an emergency evacuation early this morning after a vehicle veered off the A236 main road and crashed into a trench dug for gas mains maintenance. The impact caused a major rupture in the gas mains, leading to a potentially hazardous gas leak.
Authorities established a 200-metre safety cordon around the crash site, and all residents within this area were evacuated for safety. The incident occurred at around 1:20 a.m., with local residents being awakened by police at their doors, advising them to leave immediately.
Evacuation Experience and Delayed Support
Residents described chaotic scenes in the early hours of the evacuation. At 1:30 a.m., residents from Moys Close were escorted across Mitcham Common in the dark to an unheated building at Croydon Cemetery, where they spent several hours without adequate warmth. Due to a lack of timely council assistance, police officers had to collect blankets from Croydon University Hospital to help keep evacuees warm.
Residents from Wingate Close were taken across Mitcham Common by a different route, ending up on Galpins Road, but no arrangements were made for temporary shelter for them. Some residents have expressed their anger, with one stating, “Croydon Council should be ashamed of themselves.
By late morning, some residents were allowed to return to their homes, although those closest to the crash site remained displaced. Engineers were still working at the site into the afternoon, with A236 Mitcham Road closed in both directions.
By 4 p.m., gas engineers and police estimated that the safety cordon could be reduced to 27 metres from the crash site, allowing more residents to return. However, 11 individuals were still at the rest centre waiting for further updates.
Council Response and Resident Outrage
Croydon Council issued a statement claiming that they had set up an emergency rest centre and were providing food and shelter to the affected residents. The council spokesperson stated that only 15 households had been impacted.
However, residents who spoke to UK News in Pictures disputed the council’s account, describing inadequate support and a lack of communication during the evacuation. Many were left frustrated and angry, especially those with young children who endured hours of waiting in cold conditions.
One evacuated resident voiced their frustration on social media, saying, “We were woken up at 1:20 a.m. by police banging on the door and were told to leave everything behind. We walked to the cemetery, where we spent six hours sitting on the freezing floor without proper support.” They further criticized the council’s response, saying, “Croydon Council should be ashamed of themselves.
The resident added that despite repeated promises of buses or community centre access for warmth, these measures never materialized, leaving them, along with their six-year-old daughter and dog, as well as babies and other evacuees, exposed to the cold.
Another resident added, “They told us if you don’t have family or friends close by, to try and get a hotel. But we don’t have money for a hotel.” The frustrations have led to calls for the council to better handle future emergencies, especially regarding vulnerable groups like families with young children.
Ongoing Disruptions
The crash site remained under investigation throughout the day as engineers worked to repair the ruptured gas mains. The A236 Mitcham Road continues to be closed in both directions, causing significant disruption to traffic. Households on Mitcham Road and Rochford Way were also evacuated as part of the safety measures, and residents of a 38-flat block on Wingate Crescent were told to vacate immediately following the incident.
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the ongoing situation, and further updates are expected as repair efforts continue.
This incident comes just over two years after a similar explosion on Galpins Road, Thornton Heath, during gas mains work, which tragically killed four-year-old Sahara Salman and destroyed several homes. Today’s events have left the community concerned over the recurring risks associated with gas mains maintenance and the need for proper emergency preparedness.
