A DEIGHTON Street resident first thought the gas explosion across the road from her was blasting from Mount Isa Mines.

Yendah Lewong soon realised the blast was closer to home.

She checked on her children, realised they were safe, and rushed out the front door when she heard another bang, which was smaller than the first.

 “And when I looked I saw a lady across the road crying,” Mrs Lewong said.

“From what we could see she just came home from work.

“The fire started and it just spread all over.”

She watched as the fire began from the remains of the caravan and spread to the house gutters.

The explosion was strong enough to have damaged Mrs Lewong’s fly screen door.

Shortly after the explosion at about 7am on Tuesday, police evacuated residents.

“We did not have time to get anything, we are at my dad’s house at the moment,” Mrs Lewong said at 2.20pm, Tuesday.

“We’re still shaken and shocked, the whole process is somehow tiring, I am just feeling sad for what happened.”

The Lewongs moved into their house only last week.