Smoking ruins of the Imperial Sugar Company, after an explosion last night ripped apart the plant on the Savannah River Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, in Port Wentworth, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
Governor Sonny Perdue, says he and Mrs. Perdue are "deeply saddened" over the explosion and loss of life at the Imperial Sugar Refinery plant in Savannah, Thursday night:
“I want the families of all of those lost, missing or injured to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Our emergency personnel responded to the scene, as they always do, with speed and skill and I thank them for their continued dedication as we work to determine what caused this tragic explosion,” Perdue said in a statement released by the Governor's office Friday afternoon.
Update: Crews found the three bodies in tunnels beneath the building, which was reduced to a mass of rubble, twisted beams and mangled metal, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said.
Local authorities said they had not heard of any recoveries.
"We have not had any confirmed deaths yet. I know that for a fact. They are still going through the rubble as we speak," Savanah-Chatham County Police Sgt. Mike Wilson said.Police Chief Michael Berkow told families of missing workers that rescue efforts at the massive Imperial Sugar Company refinery had shifted to recovery operations hours after the explosion erupted late Thursday. Dozens of the nearly 100 people were working inside at the time of the blast were hurt, many critically burned.
Rescue crews load injured into ambulances for evacuation. (AP Photo)
18 of the injured are being treated at Doctor's Hospital in Augusta, according to latest reports.
Fire officials said they had begun clearing debris so they could move farther into the plant, and predicted the blaze could be extinguished by Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Greg Long said he wasn't giving up hope some of the missing might still be found alive in rooms blocked by debris.
"I have friends that work at this plant," Long said. "I don't want to see a casualty list."Click here for more GPB News coverage of the disaster.
(With the Associated Press)
