Emergency.Blog

Dozens Injured, 6 Missing in Blast at Georgia Sugar Refinery

Thursday, February 07, 2008 - 23:00 CST

Dozens Injured, 6 Missing in Blast at Georgia Sugar Refinery Plant

SAVANNAH, GA: An explosion and fire at a sprawling sugar refinery rattled this Savannah suburb Thursday night, severely injuring dozens of people and sending authorities into a nearby river to search for possible victims, officials said.

No deaths were immediately reported and there was no word on what caused the blast at the Imperial Sugar factory, which occurred in an area known as the "bagging plant," officials said. Authorities still searched for victims more than two hours later. The plant is located near Port Wentworth off of Highway 25.

Sgt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Savannah-Chatham County police, reported an unconfirmed number of injuries, "well over 50 to 100 at this point." The exact number of injured is not known at the time of this report.

Dr. Jay Goldstein of Memorial University Medical Center said 30 to 35 patients were being treated, all in critical condition. Candler Hospital reported three patients in serious condition.

A triage center was set up at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Port Wentworth, where Savannah-Chatham police Maj. Gerry Long said 28 had been sent on to hospitals. "They are still looking for and bringing people out," she said about 21:30 p.m. (local time).

Hospital officials says the victims have blast and burn injuries, some very severe, on 80 to 90 percent of their bodies. Eight ambulances are taking severely injured patients to the burn center in Augusta, GA for specialized burn treatment.

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Lynn said shipping was shut down on the Savannah River while the waterway was searched for potential victims.

"It's a large facility, and there is still a significant amount of fire," said Clayton Scott, assistant director of the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency.

-- Source/continues: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,329766,00.html

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