http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-refinery-explosion,0,6647403,print.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
GALLUP, N.M. -- Two explosions followed by fire rocked a gasoline refinery Thursday, seriously injuring four people, officials said.
Smoke billowed from the east side of the Giant Industries refinery about 15 miles east of Gallup in western New Mexico as rescue crews converged on the scene. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze.
State police Lt. Jimmy Glascock said it was unclear what caused the first explosion, but the second occurred when a piece of equipment used to make high-octane fuel malfunctioned.
The injured were taken to Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup, sheriff's Lt. John Yearly said. One victim was later being moved to the University of New Mexico Hospital's burn unit in Albuquerque. The victims' names were not immediately available.
Yearly said the refinery employs about 200 people, who were evacuated. A travel center about a quarter mile south of the refinery was also evacuated, he said.
Nearby Interstate 40 remained open, but authorities were discouraging travel in the area.
Donelle Chandler, a spokeswoman for Giant Industries in Scottsdale, Ariz., did not have any immediate comment on the explosion except to say company officials were looking into it.
Glascock said a nearby propane pipeline was vented after the explosions and the gas burned off to prevent more explosions.
GALLUP, N.M. -- Two explosions followed by fire rocked a gasoline refinery Thursday, seriously injuring four people, officials said.
Smoke billowed from the east side of the Giant Industries refinery about 15 miles east of Gallup in western New Mexico as rescue crews converged on the scene. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze.
State police Lt. Jimmy Glascock said it was unclear what caused the first explosion, but the second occurred when a piece of equipment used to make high-octane fuel malfunctioned.
The injured were taken to Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup, sheriff's Lt. John Yearly said. One victim was later being moved to the University of New Mexico Hospital's burn unit in Albuquerque. The victims' names were not immediately available.
Yearly said the refinery employs about 200 people, who were evacuated. A travel center about a quarter mile south of the refinery was also evacuated, he said.
Nearby Interstate 40 remained open, but authorities were discouraging travel in the area.
Donelle Chandler, a spokeswoman for Giant Industries in Scottsdale, Ariz., did not have any immediate comment on the explosion except to say company officials were looking into it.
Glascock said a nearby propane pipeline was vented after the explosions and the gas burned off to prevent more explosions.
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