Major pipeline accident in Boston suburb since 2010: security office

ANDOVER, Mass. (Reuters) – Some 8,000 people in suburban Boston had little hope of coming home soon as investigators rushed in on Friday.

Thursday's explosions killed more than a dozen people in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence – north of Boston – and left more than 18,000 homes and businesses without electricity, according to emergency officials.

The Massachusetts state police said that about 70 fires, explosions or gas odor investigations had been reported on Thursday, although Friday afternoon authorities said everything had been turned off. It was difficult to know how many fires and explosions had occurred in homes or other places.

In the United States, the largest pipeline accident, in terms of the number of buildings, has occurred since 2010, when an interstate natural gas transmission line operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company was destroyed in San Bruno, California. A Reuters analysis of the National Transportation and Security (NTSB) incident reports reveals that another 70 people were injured and eight others were killed.

Investigators suspected that the overpressure of a gas pipeline owned by Columbia Gas, Massachusetts, had caused a series of explosions and fires, said Thursday the chief of police service. Andover Fire, Michael Mansfield.

Frank Lupa, a 79-year-old retiree in Lawrence, spent the night in a high school with other dislodged residents, and said he prayed as chaos descended into his neighborhood.

Lupa is unlikely to return home soon. Those who have been kicked out of their homes "should be waiting for the restoration process to take several days or more," North Andover's Andrew Maylor, Twitter, said.

"The day has been incredibly difficult," Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a news conference on Friday.

The Massachusetts natural gas distribution system is one of the oldest in the United States, with the age of some of the pipelines dating back more than a century, according to information provided by electricity companies with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Robert Sumwalt said it would likely take time for investigators to review the design, maintenance and upgrades of the pipeline.

"The truth is that we really have no factual information at this stage to confirm," Sumwalt said Friday.

Columbia Gas, a NiSource Inc. utility (NI.N), NISource spokesman Ken Stammen said on Thursday. Prior to the explosions, Columbia Gas had said it would improve gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the affected suburbs.

NiSource shares fell more than 9% on Friday morning.

"Our thoughts and ongoing support are with those who have been hurt and affected. We strive to provide as much support as possible to our customers, residents and communities, "said the utility in a statement.

SECURITY CONTROLE

Fire and utility crews were still going door-to-door on Friday to conduct safety checks and gas meters, firefighters said for hours from one fire to another.

Eighteen-year-old Leonel Rondon died when his car was crushed by a falling chimney, a spokesman for the Essex County Attorney's Office said. Lawrence General Hospital reported treating 13 people for injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to an explosion of trauma.

Guilia Holland, a 35-year-old wheelchair mechanic, said she had just arrived from a bus going home when she saw "a big flash" in the house where she had rented a room for a month .

"It's not a good thing that I'm not home or not talking about it," she told a Lawrence elementary school that the Red Cross had turned into a shelter for about 170 people. .

South Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera urged residents to stay away from home.

"There could still be a gas leak in your home," Rivera said. "You can not see it and in some cases you will not be able to feel it, and God will keep you from going to sleep and not waking you up."

The United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said it was sending a team to support the state's response efforts.

"At present, the focus remains on public safety," said Mr. Baker. "Once this is done, we will work with the federal government and others to investigate how this has happened and to hold stakeholders to account."

Over the past 20 years, about 100 people have died and another 400 have been injured in major pipeline accidents that the NTSB investigated. These accidents caused more than $ 100 million in damages.