A helicopter dumped water from the Savannah River today onto a gutted sugar refinery where six died and two remain missing after an explosion that injured dozens.
Firefighters worked to extinguish molten sugar still burning four days after an explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth near Savannah.
Authorities believe the cause of the disaster was combusting sugar dust. Seventeen people remain hospitalized.
Meanwhile, the plant’s more than 4-hundred workers wait for word on the refinery’s future. Imperial Sugar C-E-O John Sheptor met with employees today in a closed-door meeting. He also met with Port Wentworth Mayor Glenn Jones.
“There’s significant damage, but he was encouraging with some of the things he as telling employees today,” Jones said. “I feel certain that he’s committed, every possible chance, that he will be able to try to get it rebuilt.”
The plant has been a major employer in the town since 1917.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Confidence high for rebuilding sugar plant
