NATION : Blast Levels 10 Homes; 6 Hurt
Explosions caused by a leaking liquid propane pipeline destroyed 10 homes today and injured six people, officials said. “It looks like somebody dropped a bomb,” a utility spokesman said.
The explosions shattered windows in the rural town of Blenheim, about 40 miles southwest of Albany, and knocked out telephone service and electricity.
“When it first happened, we thought an airplane had crashed into the side of the hill,” said resident Liz Mace. After a second explosion, she looked out the window “and the hill behind my home was on fire.”
The leak in the 8-inch underground pipeline apparently caused propane to seep into a small valley where 10 homes are located. The pipeline was still reported leaking and on fire at midday.
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