The Nation - News from June 4, 1989

Explosions leveled three buildings at a gunpowder plant in Roxbury Township, N.J., injuring at least 18 people, blowing out windows in nearby towns and shaking houses up to 13 miles away, authorities said. The cause of the blast was unknown. The explosions at the Hercules Powder Inc. plant knocked down trees, tore off doors and damaged many homes and about 80% of the businesses in the township, about 40 miles west of New York City, officials said. Three of about 40 buildings at the complex were destroyed and several were damaged, a company manager said.