Workers Injured At Blaxland Road Explosion Are 'Lucky To Be Alive'; Other Victims Treated for Possible Hearing Loss

Two of three people who were working on removing the disused underground fuel tank that exploded last Friday at Blaxland Road in Eastwood were taken to the hospital with facial injuries, while subcontractor Alan Chan was cleared by paramedics.

Mr Chan was maneuvering a 6-tonne excavator to remove concrete slab covering the fuel tank in an abandoned lot when the explosion happened in front of him. "I was moving the dirt and I tried to move the tank out," he said. "As soon as it was moving I heard a big explosion."

He said that the tank was "supposed to be empty" and had been sitting in the area for more than 30 years.

"We were very lucky," he said.

The explosion caused damage to a number of nearby homes and businesses, and shattered windows injuring eight people, which included locals and passersby. An ambulance spokesman said that five were being treated for possible hearing damage.

The Herald Sun also reported that, after the explosion, 10 people from the neighbouring buildings were checked for minor hearing complaints and ringing in the ears but were not taken to the hospital.

Inspector Norman Buckley from Fire and Rescue NSW said that the gas explosion occurred at around 12:30 p.m. but "has not resulted in any fire."

"I've been doing this now for 37 years and, I mean, I'm just looking at it (the tank) and looking at the surrounding damage. (The workers are) incredibly lucky," he said.

ABC News reported that the disused 20,000-litre fuel tank was buried about 4 metres deep on the ground and is wedged between two commercial premises on Blaxland Road.

The fire service spokesman said that they will be checking if the explosion site was already safe before they head back.