Explosion injures five, cause uncertain
Firefighters douse burned workers with water until ambulances arrive at construction site
The construction-site company where five people were badly burned in an explosion yesterday say they are a tight team and its immediate focus is on the injured workers, their wha¯nau and those they worked alongside.
Hawkins spokeswoman Helene Toury confirmed the explosion happened at the company’s construction site in Wynyard Quarter.
“Our immediate focus is to support the injured workers, their wha¯nau and the team on site.
“We are working with the relevant authorities to establish exactly what occurred.”
She said the company thanked the first responders — Fire and Emergency NZ, NZ Police and St John NZ.
“We are a tight team and our thoughts are with the injured workers and their wha¯nau.”
We were confronted with five quite badly burned patients . . . so had to triage. Frank Walsh, firefighter
She said the company would not be able to comment on the events until an investigation was completed.
A gas cooker is suspected of causing the explosion.
Emergency services raced to the site on the corner of Halsey St and Pakenham St West about 6.30am.
WorkSafe has been notified and has opened an investigation.
A spokesperson said as it was making inquiries as part of the investigation it couldn’t comment further.
Four of the injured were taken to Middlemore Hospital and one who had moderate injuries was taken to Auckland City Hospital.
Witnesses reported firefighters doused the victims with hoses as they awaited ambulances. Shredded items of clothing could be seen on the road near the scene of the explosion.
Auckland Central Station senior station officer Frank Walsh told Stuff that firefighters were first to arrive.
“On arrival, we were confronted with five quite badly burned patients down by the side of what appeared to be a shipping container.
“We arrived before the ambulances, so had to triage the patients and administer first aid, including beginning to cool the burns.”
He said firefighters directed the water on the burns with fire hoses.
A man who had worked with those injured told Stuff the explosion happened inside a portacom at the site.
“One of the boys was cooking some leftover meat last night and I think the gas cooker must’ve accidentally been left on.”
Work had not started at the site when the explosion occurred. Workers were sent home and the site closed, with no risk to the public.
All the injured were in Middlemore last night, with one having been transferred in the afternoon from Auckland city Hospital.
Two were in critical but stable condition, a Counties Manukau Health spokeswoman said.
The others, including the person who was transferred, were in stable condition.