EXPLOSION IN FACTORY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28746, 18 November 1958, Page 9

EXPLOSION IN FACTORY

orker Severely Burnt (New Zealand Press Association} j NAPIER, Nov. 17. An explosion ripped through the corrugated iron roof and walls of the East Coast Farmers’ Fertiliser Company's sulphur store and acid plant at Awatoto. three miles from Napier, early this . morning. i The only occupant of the buildling at the time dragged himsel! [through the burning acid plant [and was raced to the Napiei [Public Hospital, suffering from extensive burns to the face and upper part of the body and shock ! He is John Berry Taniplin. aged [27 of 16 Lodge road, Napier His [Condition was reported as serious The blast from the explosion which occurred at 4 a.m., tore a hole in the roof and stripped about 20ft of iron from the wall of the building It ripped the walls from the small room in which Mr Tamplin was working and scared the paint from the door and window frames as effectively as a blow torch. Flames immediately got a firm grip on the inside of the building. and three lire engines from the Napibr and Meeanee tire brigades rushed 20 firemen to the scene. Chief Fire Officer T. L. Turnei said the main fire was soon under control, but it was more than an houi before the many small sulphur tiros were put out. A tentative estimate ol the damage is £ 2000. The company’s general manage! <Mr R. A. Warburton) said thi>, morning that the exact cause of j the explosion was not yet known ! He said that Mr Tamplin. who is an assistant in the acid plant I had begun to operate the elevator I which feeds the sulphur melting pits when the explosion occurred. , The company had reserve sup- > plies of sulphur, but the factory ' might have to halt production for ' a day or two if repairs wore not ; finished when these supplies ran i out, said Mr Warburton.