Investigation into deadly Pennsylvania factory blast focuses on gas pipeline

Federal security officers are investigating the position of a pure gasoline pipeline in a deadly blast at a Pennsylvania chocolate manufacturing unit, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board introduced Tuesday.

Friday’s highly effective explosion at R.M. Palmer Co. killed seven folks, despatched 10 to the hospital and broken a number of different buildings in West Studying, a small city 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, the place the 75-year-old, family-owned firm has lengthy had a manufacturing unit.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board introduced the probe late Tuesday afternoon, calling the incident a “pure gasoline” explosion and fireplace.

The company has preliminary data from native authorities and a pure gasoline utility {that a} gasoline pipeline was concerned, an company spokesperson, Keith Holloway, informed The Related Press.

NTSB is investigating “what prompted, how and why the explosion occurred,” in line with Holloway.

Different native, state and federal investigations are ongoing.

Pennsylvania State Police have mentioned “every little thing’s on the desk” as fireplace marshals additionally attempt to pinpoint the origin and trigger. Some staff informed family they smelled pure gasoline earlier than the blast, though the gasoline utility UGI mentioned it obtained no studies of a gasoline leak.

“UGI is cooperating with authorities within the investigation in regards to the incident at R.M. Palmer,” utility spokesperson Joe Swope mentioned late Tuesday. He directed additional inquiries to the NTSB.