EXPLOSION IN TUNNEL

Chronicle (Levin), 16 May 1949, Page 5

EXPLOSION IN TUNNEL

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter .

Much Damage But No Loss OfLife

Copytitfht)

Received Sunday, 7 p.m; NEW YORK, May 14. Dahiage caused to the 'Holland Tunue (^ixnder the HUds'on River; by an xlosion'and flre yesterday, is eStimated between 500,000 and l,O00,O00 dollars Ureadv 650 tons of debris have been removed from the tunnel which will nui ,ie reopened to traffle untxl to-uxorro\v a he earliest. The restoration of the in xer walls and ceiling of the StruCturi \vill not be completed for several weeks None of the 26 persons who were talt >n to hospital after 85 vehicles wertburned or damaged in collision when u lorry carryittg chfemieals exploded an; !iaught fire, is reported in a serious eou lition to-day.- Altogether 66 person vere overeome by fumes from .the ex olosion and some from the fire. The fire itarted when 90 drums of poisonOtxs •arbon disulphide on a lorry -exploded in a f lash of blue flaine. Itx a f ew sea rads the famolxs tunnel, tlxrongh whici. 106,000 vehicles pass daily, was elog ^ed with burning lorries, 14 of Whieli .vere teleseoped. Thirty firemen wer. ivercoxxxe by funxes and at least 14 othe )ersons, several of them lorry drivers vere ixxjured. . ' - Fighting fronl both the New York md Jersey City ends of the tunnel, dremen worked for three hours befor. jiey brought the fire under control. The firemen who were overeome , in the tunnel' were administered oxygen at the entraliees axxd returned to figlr. the fire. All woi'e gasmasks, whiei .vere not' adequate against the heavv poison-filled smoke. Radio walkietalkie.» were used to difect the fire fighters. About 200 yards oi' the ceiling and valls of the tunnel fell to .the roadWa; before the fire was brought under eun trol, but water fronx the Hudson Rivei did not break through. A fireboat patrolled the water above the tunnel to watch for air bubblvs which would be the first indication ot a break. The electrie lighting and sig nalling system failed, leaving the tun nel in pitch darkness.

The drivers and passengers of thlorries and motor-ears who were not injured or overeome by the fumes scram Ixled choking and panicky from the tun-. nel. The intricate ventilating systeui was put out of aetion. The fire also broke the comnxunica tions cables and knocked out four majo. networks. The telegraph eonnection.with a large section of the nation were also disrupted until alternative" chanlxels were swxtehed in. The tunnel is jUSt oyer-^a inile ana three-quarters long, *and Cohsists o. txvo "tubes, " 29| feet in diameter, ■ach taking two 4ines bf one-way traffie. ihe tun'nels are* venti'lated by fresh lir pumped intb the' spaey' b'elow the coadway, discharged. into the trafiic xpace thibugh a continuous slot, and exhausted into the spaee over the flat eeiiing. Prior to the jdesiglxing of tht..?unnel,fv .xxayur.^il dr.a^gH o S^as. , ; for ventxlation, but the advent of inotor vehicles, with their poisonous exhausi guses, made' forced ventilation neees sai-y.. ^ , '