Power Surge Causes 'Mini-Explosion' Reports

17 May 2016, 11:46 | Updated: 17 May 2016, 11:47

A power surge has affected underground electrical cables in Glasgow city centre, sparking reports of a "mini explosion''.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport said the situation "resulted in a power surge affecting signalling'' on the city's subway.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene in Buchanan Street on Tuesday morning after reports of a "bang'' from a drain in the street.

An area in Buchanan Street at its junction with St Vincent Place was cordoned off.

A spokeswoman for the service said: "We received a report of a bang coming from a drain in Buchanan Street.

"We requested ScottishPower. It was some electrical cables which ScottishPower have isolated.''

Twitter users described the incident as a "mini explosion''.

Nick Kewney tweeted: "Missed a mini explosion on Buchanan Street by about 5m! Nobody seems worried so guessing it's a gas pipe.''

Police Scotland said there were reports of a power cut in the area and smoke coming from a drain.

The fire service said no fire had to be dealt with and the incident had been passed on to Scottish Power.

A ScottishPower spokesman said the incident happened shortly after 8am and all 115 properties which suffered power cuts in the area were reconnected by 9.25am.

He added: "We apologise for any inconvenience. We will now work to repair the cable fault.

"There was no evidence of any explosion. A bang was heard but the fault occurred several feet underground.''