A natural gas pipeline exploded early Sunday morning in New Caney, Texas, a small town just north of Houston. Excavation equipment was found near the
location of the explosion which appears to be due to an intentional puncture in the pipeline. 250 people were evacuated for a brief time while the
fire was brought under control.
www.chron.com
In what appears to be a case of criminal mischief, a punctured pipeline exploded before dawn Sunday, causing the evacuation of 250 people but no
injuries or significant damage to nearby homes.
Residents near the pipeline said they were awakened around 4:45 a.m. by two explosions — a small one, then a large one — that sounded like thunder or
a train or tornado. The sky turned bright orange, they said.
Officials were attempting Sunday to identify suspects in a felony investigation into the explosion. One or more individuals took a subcontractor's
heavy equipment early Sunday morning and apparently began digging with it and punctured the pipeline, said Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy
Williams. "We are treating this as a criminal act, one where it doesn't matter if the result was intentional," Williams said. "It's
unconscionable this was done near homes. This easily could have resulted in a fatality."
Williams said whoever was involved in the incident had to know how to operate the equipment — a trackhoe (a four-wheel excavator) and a boom truck
(the type with an arm that extends to reach power lines).
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A criminal investigation is under way.
[edit on 27-9-2004 by Banshee]