All but 12 London families given the all clear to return home
Some streets in the area are reopened, some to pedestrian traffic only
Almost 24-hours after a massive explosion ripped through their London, Ont. neighbourhood forcing wide-spread evacuations, more than 100 families were allowed to return home.
The city gave the all clear Thursday at 8 p.m. that all but 12 homes were safe for occupancy. The dozen in the immediate area of the blast on Woodman Avenue, plus two on Charlotte Street, are either destroyed or too significantly damaged .
"Elated! We're going to have a two-day power nap and just try to get back to normal," said Edward Matthews, who lives on Woodman.
He and a number of others had been staying in hotels and gladly boarded London transit buses for the return trip home.
Tracey Matthews, her husband Edward and their son Kevin hop on the LTC to head back to their home on Woodman Ave.<br><br>They say they are “elated” to go back to their house.<br><br>The family was one of many who were displaced after an explosion in Old East Village in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LdnOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LdnOnt</a> <a href="https://t.co/zXlYAWgDU7">pic.twitter.com/zXlYAWgDU7</a>
—@SofiaRodrgzRoads reopened
The Ontario Fire Marshal's office, alongside police and city officials continue to investigate the explosion, looking to answer questions about its scope and spread.
The area is unrecognizable with one home flattened where the vehicle driven by an alleged drunk-driver crashed Wednesday at 11 pm.
Meantime, the city said Quebec Street and Charlotte Street will reopen, with Woodman Avenue accessible to local pedestrian traffic only.
Pedestrians will only be allowed on Queen Street between Quebec Street and Woodman Ave.
London Hydro was able to restore power to all homes, though the city said people on Woodman will be without gas until Friday morning.