70 Explosions In Boston Hundreds Evacuated

nivek

As Above So Below
Hundreds Evacuated After 70 Explosions Hit Gas Pipeline In Boston

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At least six people were injured and hundreds were ordered to evacuate their homes following a series of 70 explosions that rocked three communities near Boston on Thursday, apparently triggered by a gas pipeline rupture, local officials said.

Live TV images showed firefighters battling blazes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, around 25 miles (40 km)north of the U.S. city. The streets were darkened where authorities had cut off electricity and were shutting down gas service in an effort to stop further blazes.

At least three people, including one firefighter, were hurt in Andover, the town said in a statement. Six people were being treated at Lawrence General Hospital, said spokeswoman Jill McDonald Halsey. It was not immediately clear if any of those being treated at that hospital were from Andover.

Massachusetts State Police said a total of 70 fires, explosions or investigations of gas odour had been reported.

Authorities said nothing to indicate any foul play was suspected. The first explosion was triggered by an overpressurised gas line, Boston's WBZ News reported.

North Andover resident Laurie Williams, 55, said she drove home from work to find police and fire vehicles blocking streets near her home, and learned three buildings nearby were on fire.

"It was very scary," Williams said, with smoke visible on the skyline. "My first thought was this is a gas explosion."

The Columbia Gas company, a unit of NiSource Inc <NI.N>, had said earlier on Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions occurred, but it was not immediately clear whether any work was being done in those communities.

"Columbia Gas is investigating what happened on its system today," said Ken Stammen, a spokesman for NiSource.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said it was dispatching a team to support the state's emergency response efforts, an agency spokesperson said on Thursday.

Local media outlets' Twitter feeds were filled with images of homes in flames or collapsed.

"We are asking everybody with gas in their homes to leave their homes until further notice," North Andover town manager Andrew Maylor told one local television station.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera told WBZ: "What we know is that there are have been multiple explosions, multiple fires that are happening across the city." He said residents detecting strange odours should leave their homes.


State police urged residents served by Columbia Gas to evacuate their homes, saying the utility was cutting pressure to its lines and that it would take "some time" to shut off all service.

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nivek

As Above So Below
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Rikki

High Priestess
I and my Husband are watching this unfold. It is my opinion that this is not an accident. sadly once again we are under attack.
I hold those affected in my heart.
Blessed Be
Rikki
 

Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
It would be nice to see detailed maps where the 70 events happened....and how many explosions, fires and odors were reported. It could help to answer some questions.
 

Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
Damn, Does anyone suspect this is some sort of terrorist attack thing?

No not really.......especially if it was 3 fires and one explosion. If it were 50 explosions and 10 fires then yes......but that's not in the news around here. It appears we have to wait for further reports.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
No not really.......especially if it was 3 fires and one explosion. If it were 50 explosions and 10 fires then yes......but that's not in the news around here. It appears we have to wait for further reports.

I guess you realize now it was more than one explosion...

...
 

Shadowprophet

Truthiness
What can we do, When The Reality is, The enemy looks like us, Lives like us, lives among us, We cant identify the enemies, they are invisible.

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nivek

As Above So Below
Here's an update...

'They're hiding from the problem': Boston gas company behind catastrophic explosions is slammed for its slow reaction as a state of emergency is declared

  • Columbia Gas was due to start replacing its gas pipes across Massachusetts on Monday morning
  • On Thursday, the company's network exploded in three Boston neighborhoods
  • Teenager Leonel Rondon, 18, was killed, 12 others were injured and at least 60 homes were destroyed
  • On Friday, Governor Charlie Baker said it had been incompetent of its handling of the investigation
  • Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said the company was 'hiding from the problem' and not working with police
  • The company was also criticized for not saying anything about the disaster until four hours after it started
  • The fires, officials say, may have been caused by an over-pressurized gas main
  • It is unclear if it was to be replaced along with other pipes which Columbia Gas said were 'ready to be retired'
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