Sugar Refinery Blast: Bodies Found

Imperial Sugar Sugar Refinery Georgia's top fire official says firefighters have found three bodies in a still-burning sugar refinery. They think they know the location of three others believed killed in an explosion last night.

by The Associated Press

Published: Fri, February 08, 2008 - 1:02 pm CST

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (AP) - Georgia's top fire official says
firefighters have found three bodies in a still-burning sugar
refinery near Savannah. And he says they think they know the
location of three others believed killed in an explosion last
night.
State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said
the three bodies were found in tunnels beneath the building.
But local authorities say they haven't heard of any bodies being
recovered, and aren't confirming the deaths. A county police
sergeant says crews are "still going through the rubble."
About 100 people were working inside the refinery when the
explosion engulfed the building in flames. More than 30 people were
taken to hospitals. Some were airlifted to a burn center in
Augusta, 130 miles away. Several are reported to be in critical
condition.
Fires continue to burn in parts of the facility. Fire officials
say they've started clearing debris so they can move farther into
the plant. They predict the fires could be out by this afternoon.
Officials haven't determined what caused the explosion, but they
suspect sugar dust, which can be volatile.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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ALocal Says:

Fri, Feb 08, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Okay Mobile Fire Department & EMA officials…..could this happen in Mobile county? I hope the Splenda plant operators are paying close attention. I pray this does not happen in our community but if it does, that we are prepared and can learn from this tragedy. My prayers and thoughts go out to the victims and family members.