Smoke still billows Friday Feb. 8, 2008, from a section of the Imperial Sugar Company plant after an explosion last night ripped apart the plant on the Savannah River in Port Wentworth, Ga. Six people are uncounted for and more than 50 people were taken to hospitals, and some of them were airlifted to a burn center in Augusta, Ga., 130 miles up the Savannah River. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
Authorities in Savannah say the search for missing people after an explosion last night at a sugar refinery will now turn to recovery.
Savannah’s police chief said late this morning authorities expect to find fatalities inside the Imperial Sugar plant. Early reports indicated there were six people missing—Chief Michael Berkow said there could be more.
More than 50 people are now reported injured from the refinery blast, which occurred a little before 8 o’clock last night in the nearby Savannah suburb of Port Wentworth, along the Savannah River. 18 of the injured were airlifted to a burn center 130 miles away in Augusta--most are in critical condition. An 11:30 news conference was scheduled there for updates.
As of late morning, firefighters were still not able to get inside the four-story refinery building due to fires still burning, and the instability of the structure.
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Authorities suspect that sugar dust, often volatile, may be the cause of the blast.
Authorities in Savannah say the search for missing people after an explosion last night at a sugar refinery will now turn to recovery.
Savannah’s police chief said late this morning authorities expect to find fatalities inside the Imperial Sugar plant. Early reports indicated there were six people missing—Chief Michael Berkow said there could be more.
More than 50 people are now reported injured from the refinery blast, which occurred a little before 8 o’clock last night in the nearby Savannah suburb of Port Wentworth, along the Savannah River. 18 of the injured were airlifted to a burn center 130 miles away in Augusta--most are in critical condition. An 11:30 news conference was scheduled there for updates.
As of late morning, firefighters were still not able to get inside the four-story refinery building due to fires still burning, and the instability of the structure.
View Larger Map
Authorities suspect that sugar dust, often volatile, may be the cause of the blast.
