The TransCanada natural gas pipeline explosion near Winnipeg, Canada caused a fire that burned for 12 hours Saturday, but the most disconcerting effects have proven to be the resulting elimination of heat in close to 4,000 homes.
In what could only be defined as terrible timing, temperatures in Winnipeg and surrounding areas are currently dropping to -20 C at night. Some authorities say that the outage will last from 24 to 72 hours, and others are not sure how long the outage will last at all. According to a Canadian news provider, reporters suggest an “Artic freeze” and blizzard-like effects will soon hit the area.
My mom just came down to my room to tell me that shes shutting off the heat because of some gas explosion in Winnipeg
Frozen Ingrid I guess.
— NyckleNOPE (@ingridnycklemoe) January 26, 2014
TransCanada natural gas pipeline exploded near Winnipeg feeding heat to my house among many others. My house is now 60°… so cold!
— Jaci Stofferahn (@JaciStofferahn) January 27, 2014
No repairs have been made on the pipeline yet, and the blizzard-like conditions in the area are to blame for the delay. The National Energy Board and the Transportation Safety Board need to inspect the pipeline damage before TransCanada is able to repair the pipelines, but the extreme weather makes accessing the site too hazardous.
The necessary investigation can hopefully begin on Monday, and warming centers have been set up for the nine communities that have been affected by the explosion.
At around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning, neighborhoods watched as large, booming flames shot out of the ground after one large explosion. Five homes closest to the site were evacuated as firefighters fought the massive flames for 12 hours.
No foul play has been suspected regarding the pipeline explosion, and there has also been no conclusive evidence of what caused the explosion.
Image via Youtube
