EAST LONDON EXPLOSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1729, 23 June 1917, Page 1

EAST LONDON EXPLOSION.

A committee was appointed by the Home Secretary ty inquire into the cause of the explosion in a mnuilions factory in Mast London on Friday, -January 19th. The conclusions at which the committee arrived were recently announced as follow:—(1) The explosion was preceded by a lire, which broke out either in the’melt pot or in a corrugated iron structure at the lop of (he building immediately above the melt pot, (2) The (ire rapidly gained a lierco hold, and as the melt pot contained a large quantity of explosive material in a state of confinement, it is probable that the initial detonation took place there, (.1) The evidence available,, is not sufficient to determine with certainty how the tire was started, but all ■ accidental causes presenting any degree of probability may be eliml-' nated except the two following: (a) A detonation spark produced by a friction or impact; (b) spontaneous ignition, due to decomposition of the material in oivabout the melt pot. (-I)- The possibility of the disaster having been maliciously caused cannot be disregarded, but searching investigation by the police and other authorities failed to discover any evidence which would warrant such a conclusion, and no suspicion fell upon any employee or other person. In view of the exaggerated rumours which had been current (he committee took particular care to obtain a correct record of all casualties. They wen* as follows: Sixty-nine persons were killed on (he spot; t)8 were seriously injured, of whom four have since died in hospital; and 328 slightly injured. The committee was informed by the ■police that, in addition, some five or six hundred persons who received cuts and bruises were treated in the streets or by private practitioners. Of the 10 men’ belonging to the shift at work in the building, nine were killed and one escaped, but of the 10 women at work only one lost her life.