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Explosions rock Florida gas plant | |
(34 minutes later) | |
At least seven people were injured by a series of explosions at a gas plant in the US state of Florida, officials say. | |
They were working at the Blue Rhino propane plant, in the town of Tavares, when the blasts began at about 23:00 (03:00 GMT), blowing the roof off. | |
The explosions continued for about an hour and caused a large fire. The cause of the initial blast is not yet known. | |
Fifteen workers were found safe after initially being unaccounted for, while two others managed to escape unhurt. | |
People living within 0.5 miles (0.8km) of the plant have been evacuated. | |
A spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, John Harrell, said emergency crews believed the fire had been contained and that there was no immediate danger to Tavares residents. | |
Former plant supervisor Don Ingram told WESH-TV that Blue Rhino took in propane tanks used for home barbecues, cleaned them, checked their valves and then refilled them. | |
About 4,000 to 5,000 tanks were refilled each night and were stacked on plastic pallets four or five high behind the filling station, Mr Ingram added. |