Workers injured in natural gas blast

Five workers were injured by an explosion at a natural gas processing plant on Monday (March 31st). The plant, located on the Washington-Oregon border, US, suffered a large explosion that prompted the evacuation of around 400 people from nearby residential and farm areas. Thick black smoke that was caused by the blast was visible over a mile away from the site. 

The Williams Northwest Pipeline facility experienced an explosion at 8.20am local time, causing a large fire. It also led to damage to one of the liquefied natural gas storage tanks on the site. According to the Benton County sheriff, Steven Keane, only a small amount of gas ended up leaking from the tank to the ground. The liquefied gas that did leak was confined in a containment area before evaporating.

Firefighters contained the fire and extinguished it a few hours after the blast. No damage has been reported to properties outside of the processing plant.

Of the five workers that were injured during the incident, four were taken to the emergency room at Good Shepherd Medical Center for minor injuries that weren't thought to be life threatening. The fifth worker - a pipeline technician - was taken to a specialist burns unit at a Portland hospital, according to local authorities.

Local law enforcement went door-to-door within a two-mile radius of the site in order to evacuate everyone from homes and farms in the area. Around 400 residents were evacuated, with a shelter being created at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds. Transport was provided for those that did not have access to cars. The railroad in the area and Highway 14 were closed. The evacuation area was based upon the extent of the blast if the two site storage tanks exploded.

The evacuation zone was later reduced to a one-mile radius after the situation was thought to be contained. Restrictions on the roads were also lifted.

It is not yet known what caused the explosion or what the extent of the damage at the site was. The natural gas pipeline in the area was shut down, although it has continued to supply other places.