Sunday 18 October 2015

Evacuations following explosion at Texas natural gas pipeline facility.

Employees at a natural gas pipeline facility at Encinal in La Salle County, Texas, at about 4.15 am local time on Friday 16 October 2015. Between 30 and 40 homeowners also evacuated their properties following the incident, though local authorities have only listed one of these as official and necessary. Witnesses reported hearing two large booms in rapid succession, followed by flames that could be seen from 20 miles (32 km) away. There have been no reports of any injuries in the explosion or subsequent fire at the facility, which is operated by the Lewis Energy Group.

Fire burning at the Lewis Energy Group facility at Encinal in La Salle County, Texas on Friday 16 August 2015. KENS 5 Eyewitness News.

The fire at the site was extinguished by 10.30 am, and damage has been described as minor, though Lewis Energy are still trying to determine the cause of the explosion, and a nearby school remained closed on Friday as a precaution. 

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