OILFIELD EXPLOSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18162, 9 August 1933, Page 10

OILFIELD EXPLOSION

S&VEX* PERSONS KILLED EXCITEMENT IN CALIFORNIA! LUNG BEACH, California, June 3. • A terrific Explosion in a gasoline distillery rocked the famous Signal Hill oil lielcl near here yesterday, tumbled houses down upon the heads of trapped residents, and spread fire through the area. Police estimated that seven persons were , killed by the explosion arid lire which followed. . Scores of surrounding producer’ wells were threatened. • Houses in the .immediate area were crushed by the terrific ooncussion. A young mother and her baby were tlio first known dead. It was feared that many others mot a, similar fate when their homes caved in, , Cries of the injured mingled, with the roar of flames shooting into the sky ajid defying emergency fire crews from every • part of the Bay district. Ail available physicians and nurses wore rushed to the scene in ambulances. Seventeen injured persons were checked in at the seaside hospital within a few minutes. More arrived every minute at other hospitals. The blast shattered windows throughout Long B'eacli and as far distant as San Pedro, six miles along the beach front. ' A , . ' . More than 15,000 persons gathered at tho scene and hampered fifomen attempting to stem the flumes. Police gave warning that other explosions were imminent if the fire was not checked. As with the earthquake, city authorities immediately called upon the United States Navy for aid and 300 bluejackets were dispatched from San Pedro to police, the explosion area. At least 10 oil .wells were attacked by ,tho flames within ,a few minutes. 'lnitial damage was estimated at more than £40.000.

The pfeseneo of scores of gasoline and crude oil storage tanks in the vicinity added to the hazards of firemen.