Explosions at Gunpowder Plant Injure 18, Destroy 3 Buildings

Explosions leveled three buildings at a gunpowder plant in Roxbury Township, N.J., Saturday, 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 this 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. Twelve people were treated and released at a local hospital. Three were admitted with injuries ranging from back pains to a concussion. All werein stable condition, supervisor Barbara Treverrow said.

Best said the material that exploded Saturday was a smokeless propellant used in shotgun shells.

He said that to limit damage, the plant is divided into compartments that each contain no more than 1,000 pounds of gunpowder. The gunpowder plant is located in a somewhat isolated ara near several small towns.