Residents lucky to escape metal missile after Woonona recycling explosion

The metal cylinder which emdedded itself in the footpath on Pioneer Drive Woonona last night. Picture: Amanada Gripton, Woonona/Bulli Community Facebook Group

SHOCKED residents of Railway Parade Woonona were lucky to have escaped injury this morning when a large metal cylinder shot like a missile from a recycling plant, across the main South Coast railway and embedded into the footpath outside their homes.

Fire and Rescue NSW were called to a metal recycling business on York Place following reports of a chemical drum explosion about 9.15am today (Saturday June 13).

One male worker suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital in a stable condition.

Fire crews from Bulli and Corrimal are monitoring the scene with gas detectors. Fire and Rescue NSW hazardous materials experts from Shellharbour also attended the scene.

The cylinder is believed to have shot like a missile through the walls from a corrugated iron work shed in York Road, across the main South Coast rail line, embedding onto the grass verge in front of houses on Railway Parade.

Social media was awash with comments from startled residents, describing how houses shook. The explosion was heard as far away as Campbell Street.

“A massive metal thing from the factory flew across the train tracks, the road and on to the walk way!!! So lucky is didn’t hit anyone. Glad I wasn’t driving past 2 mins earlier,” Bianca Chapman posted on the Woonona/Bulli Community Facebook Group.

“I heard it from Woonona, then I looked up and saw something falling from the sky. It was so loud,” Andromeda Lembo posted.

Investigations are underway into the cause of the explosion.

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