BLOWN TO PIECES.
PETROL EXPLOSION.
1100 Tons of Blazing Oil at Rouen Wharf. TWELVE MEN MISSING. (United P. A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2 p.m.) PARIS, March 22. The petrol tanker Giraffe, _on its arrival at Rouen, had just moored at the storage wharf and the crew of 17 were about to begin their mid-day meal, when a terrific explosion blew up the decks.
A slieet of flame shot up and five, of the crew were blown into the water but were rescued. The remainder are missing. They are believed to be burned to death or to have lieen blown to pieces.
Firefloats rushed to the scene, but the heat of 1100 tons of blazing petrol was so tremendous that they were unable to approach within fire-fighting range for two hours, when the hull was still whitehot, clouds of steam rising and the water sizzling.
It is believed that the explosion was due to petrol which had escaped from the tank, making contact with the boilerbouse.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 70, 23 March 1934, Page 7
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164BLOWN TO PIECES. Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 70, 23 March 1934, Page 7
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