Multiple explosions blow roof off Florida gas plant

A series of major explosions have affected the Blue Rhino propane plant in Tavares, Lake County, Florida.

John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff’s office has indicated that 15 workers who were originally reported missing have been found safe; they had merely been ‘scattered’ when the explosions began and have since contacted their managers and emergency crews.

7 crew members were injured in the incident, some seriously.

24 – 26 individuals had been working the night shift at the plant when the explosions began shortly before 11pm.

Aerial footage of the scene, gathered early Tuesday morning, indicates that fires continue to burn over a large area, shooting large plumes of smoke into the sky.

No injuries have affected those in the local neighbourhood, and the initial evacuation zone of 1 mile has now been reduced to a 0.5 mile radius.

County Sheriff, Gary Borders, has outlined that all blasts happened inside the plant, and that the building roof has been blown off.

The plant had approximately 53 000 20 pound propane cylinders on site, however the cause of the blasts is as yet unknown.

Edited from various sources by Emma McAleavey.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30072013/florida_gas_plant_explosions516/