Three people were hurt in an explosion in the garden of a packed pub.
An electrical sub-station behind The Red Lion, in Leytonstone, caught fire at around 10.15pm yesterday evening (Tuesday, July 19).
James Chitty, the pub’s general manager, said staff told him it sounded like a bomb going off.
He said: “It is an electrical sub-station and it exploded last night.
“It was busy at the time. A couple of guys had burns but no one was serious or critical.”
You may have heard of a commotion here.
— The Red Lion (@RedLionE11) July 19, 2016
A substation located in our garden exploded!
The building is not on fire, everyone evacuated & safe.
London Fire Brigade was called to at 10.18pm and two fire engines attended.
A spokesman for the brigade said: “There was a small fire in an electrical sub-station in the rear of the pub.
“Two hundred people were evacuated from the building before the brigades arrived.”
“Three people were taken away by London Ambulance Service.”
The electrical station is owned and operated by UK Power Networks.
A spokesman said: “We are investigating after an incident in the Waterloo Road area, which briefly interrupted power to 1,300 local homes and businesses shortly after 10pm yesterday.”
The pub was able to open as usual this afternoon (Wednesday, July 20).
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