A 100 kilogram plus container drum flew up to 100 metres and landed just metres from nearby homes following an explosion in Woonona on Saturday morning.
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Wollongong Acting Inspector Anthony Peterson told the Mercury remarkably only a 40-year-old male employee working at Drum Master suffered just minor lacerations following the explosion.at the drum recycling business.
"It could have been much worse. The drum container has gone over those trees and train line and landed on a nearby footpath. It's just lucky no one was around," Insp Peterson said.
Police believe the explosion happened around 9.15am while workers were decanting chemicals from one container drum to the other.
"That's when we believe the explosion occurred and resulted in a 100kg metal container landing some 80 to 100 metres away from the site.
"There is extensive damage to the back of the premises."
A number of Fire Rescue NSW teams and Hazardous Materials Units were rendering the area safe to allow Wollongong Police and SafeWork NSW officers to inspect the site.
The explosion was so loud residents hundreds of metres away heard it.
Stuart Montague was right next door to Drum Master running his Illawarra Woodwork School class when the explosion happened.
"I thought a plane had landed on the roof. I feared for the worse," he told the Mercury.
"We all just looked at each other in horror.
"[My son] Dane was sitting under a mirror frame eating a pie at the time. He was covered in debris and metal and wood. It is just lucky the mirror frame didn't have a mirror in it. He would've been a goner."
Dane added he was happy to be alive.
"I s**t myself. It wasn't fun," he said.
"When we went out and checked what happened I couldn't believe no one was seriously injured. I thought for sure there would be major injuries.
"I'm grateful everyone is okay."
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
