SERIOUS DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1927, Page 3

SERIOUS DISASTER

FATAL GAS EXPLOSION. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. VANCOUVER,, Nov. 11. At Pittsburgh more than a score are dead, and several hundred injured, this morning by an explosion of a mammoth natural gas storage tank, con taining five million feet. FURTHER PARTICULARS. fßeceived this day at 12.25 p.m.) VANCOUVER, Nov. I f. Thirteen ladies at present are recovered following the Pittsburgh explosion, but it is feared the death roll will be much higher. Many of the hundreds of injured were lushed to the hospital and some are not expected to livo. The explosion shattered windows through a large area of the city, and broke water mains which flooded the streets and prevented rescuers penetrating the place where lay most of the dead and injured. Houses adjacent to the scene of the disaster were demolished. It is believed many women and childen were caught in the wreckage. .Mothers, who left home just before the burst fought policemen and firemen who endeavoured to keep them from the danger zone, screaming for their childrc* left at home.

Great pieces lay. half submerged in the flooded streets, twisted like paper for hundreds of feet about the wrecked tank. Many persons far from the blast were struck by missiles and electric and telephone wires reduced to a tangled twisted debris.

The wires operating the fire alarms were thrown out of order and caused numerous fire scares in addition to actual outbreaks.

Police are guarding besieged hospitals, but arc unable to preserve order. Ambulances and petrol wagons only forced their way through after great difficulty. Officials are unable to estimate the number of men working at the plant at flic time of the explosion. They valued the tank at 750,000 dollars.