Fatal Edison Blast Blamed on Weld
An explosion that killed six workers and badly burned 10 others last month at Southern California Edison’s Mohave Generating Station here was the result of a faulty weld, a preliminary report said Monday.
“It appears to be a steam pipe rupture in a faulty weld,” Edison spokesman Bob Krauch said. The finding was contained in a memo issued by the California Public Utilities Commission.
Krauch said that tests are not expected to be completed until August and that the utilities commission will not have a definitive answer on the June 9 accident until later this year.
The accident occurred when a large pipe carrying 1,000-degree steam burst near the plant’s control room and cafeteria, burning 16 plant employees.
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