HUGE GAS BLAST
Seven Die
In Mexico
(NJ. Press Assn.—Copyright) MEXICO CITY, August 23.
A butane gas explosion wrecked a modern sevenstorey block of flats today, killing seven persons, injuring 33, and damaging 39 nearby buildings.
Panic-stricken tenants had to be helped from upstairs windows by firemen on ladders. Police sealed off the area to prevent looting. The explosion was caused when a spark ignited butane gas being pumped from a truck into the building’s basement.
Preliminary investigation indicated a truck was pumping gas into tanks in the building’s basement. The connexion was faulty and a spark from a nearby plumber’s soldering iron exploded it.
One victim was an 18-month-old girl. Mr Miguel Martinez, a shop owner across the road, said; “There was no sound, just hot air at first. Then came the explosion, followed by a rain of glass, concrete, wood frames of window’s and plaster. “Then a moment’s silence again, broken by the screams of men. women, and children.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 11
Word Count
161HUGE GAS BLAST Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 11
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