A Williams Gas pipeline ruptured along Virginia State Route 26 just north of the town of Appomattox in Virgina, US. The rupture gave some residents just enough time to get out of their homes before an explosion rocked the area and sent flames 300ft into the air. The blast left a crater approximately 15ft across. Large hunks of pipeline were blown across the road and were strewn in a nearby field. The explosion also flung rocks and other debris onto the roofs of nearby homes. Officials evacuated 50 residents in the immediate area. No serious injuries were reported; five people were treated and released. The cause of the rupture is unknown. Gas officials detected the rupture almost immediately and shut off the gas. What exploded was the residue in the pipe. Flames from the explosion were visible from miles away.