TransCanada crews work on a gas pipeline leak that occurred just outside Otterburne, Manitoba, Monday, January 27, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
January 28, 2014 - 2:07 AM
WINNIPEG - TransCanada PipeLines says natural gas is flowing again into Manitoba Hydro's distribution system and to some rural customers.
About 4,000 residents in southeast Manitoba were affected by a natural gas pipeline explosion at a valve site near Sr. Pierre-Jolys early Saturday.
TransCanada says service has now been restored to Hanover, Ritchot, La Broquerie, Ste. Agathe, Niverville, New Bothwell, Kleefeld, Otterburne and Marchand.
The company says it expects the remaining residents, in De Salaberry, St. Malo, St. Pierre-Jolys, Grunthal and Dufrost, to have service restored by around noon today.
The explosion occurred at a valve site near Sr. Pierre-Jolys and the flames were extinguished by Saturday afternoon. Crews have been working around the clock in extreme cold to restore gas supplies.
Manitoba Hydro crews are going door-to-door in areas where gas has returned to confirm service is properly restored and to relight pilot lights if needed.
The RCMP has said the cause of the explosion is not suspicious. The Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
There were no reports of injuries from the fiery blast.
TransCanada PipeLines vice-president Karl Johannson has apologized and promised that the company would cover any direct losses people experienced.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014