Warning after gas bottle explodes in bin lorry

An east London council is urging residents to dispose of hazardous waste properly after an empty gas bottle thrown in a household bin exploded in a refuse lorry, injuring a worker.

Footage captured in August, now released by Newham Council, shows the worker pressing a button on the side of a lorry before an explosion inside the truck blows a hole through the container.

The man can be seen bending over and running away following the blast, and the council said he had been "rushed to the hospital with dizziness and hearing issues".

Sarah Ruiz, Newham Council's statutory deputy mayor, said: "We are grateful that our staff member is now recovering, but this incident could have been much worse.

"I urge everyone to be proactive and responsible, by taking these dangerous items to appropriate recycling locations."

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