Explosion Kills Worker, Injures Six Others

Workers trying to repair hurricane damage at a Daytona Beach, FL wastewater treatment plant were the victims of an explosion Wednesday. The workers were using a cutting torch to repair a roof covering two chemical tanks. This is the suspected cause of the blast.

Two surviving workers suffered burns over at least 80% of their bodies.

Officials later found a small hole in a pipe that connects to one of the 25-foot-tall tanks, a container that held highly flammable methanol. But it was not known whether the hole was there beforehand or was created by the explosion.

“Vapors are usually what burns or explodes so maybe there was a leak,” said Lt. John King of the Daytona Beach Fire Department. “More than likely there were vapors coming from somewhere.”

The Kansas City Star has more on the Daytona worksite accident.