Multiple injuries, wide evacuations in US oil refinery explosion
SUPERIOR, United States: Several people were injured and an expansive area was evacuated after an explosion and fire at an oil refinery in the Midwestern US state of Wisconsin.
Residents were ordered to evacuate across a wide area of Superior, a city with a population of 27,000 near the northern tip of the state and less than 200 miles from the Canadian border.
An initial explosion occurred around 10.06am (1506 GMT) at the Husky Energy oil refinery. It was followed by multiple subsequent explosions and a spreading fire that appeared to burn out of control inside the refinery complex – spewing thick black smoke high up into the sky.
Six people were injured and taken to hospitals, along with several ‘walking wounded’ treated at the scene, Superior Mayor Jim Paine told a news conference. “At this point there have been no fatalities,” Paine said.
The smoke prompted officials to order evacuations within a two to three-mile radius of the refinery and 10 miles to the south. Area schools were closed and evacuation centres opened for residents.
“I’m told that this fire will likely burn until the fuel is consumed – and that could be a couple of days,” Superior police chief Nicholas Alexander told television station WDIO.
The fire was concentrated around areas of the refinery where asphalt is stored, officials said. The complex processes crude oil and makes asphalt.
“The asphalt is on fire,” said refinery manager Kollin Schade. “It’s a little like tires. Once you get going, they’re very hot and they’re hard to extinguish.” Officials said they did not know the cause of the explosions.
The fire department was attempting to keep the fire from spreading, but was not actively fighting the fire, awaiting additional equipment and resources. — AFP