Sewer explosion in Nelsonville, Ohio

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: EX-20070226-10054-USA
Date / time: 26/02/2007 04:25:25
Event: Explosion
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Ohio
City: Nelsonville
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Residents on six streets in this southeast Ohio city returned home Sunday, after an explosion in the storm sewer system forced them from their houses overnight.

Gasoline leaked from an overturned vehicle into the sewers and caused the explosion, but it was unclear what ignited the fuel, Nelsonville Fire Department spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said.

About 50 homes were evacuated and about 20 people spent the night at an emergency shelter at Hocking College set up by the Red Cross. By Sunday morning firefighters began escorting residents back to their homes and inspecting the damage, Pfeiffer said.

Only one house was so damaged that its occupants weren't allowed to stay there, and four other homes received moderate damage, Pfeiffer said. Now the city's biggest concern will be determining the extent of the damage to the sewer system, Pfeiffer said.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=10054