Gas pipeline near Houston, Texas erupts in a towering flame, forcing evacuations
Pipeline explosion in Deer Park, Houston, was sparked by a vehicle hitting an above-ground valve
A towering flame gradually subsided Tuesday in the aftermath of a massive pipeline explosion after a vehicle drove through a fence and struck an above-ground valve, officials said.
Deer Park officials said police and local FBI agents initiated investigations and found no preliminary reports that would suggest a coordinated or “terrorist” attack and that “this appears to be an isolated incident”.
The investigation included efforts to learn more about the driver of a vehicle that was incinerated by the pipeline explosion as flames scorched the ground across a wide radius, severed adjacent power transmission lines and ignited homes at a distance. Police did not provide any information about the person’s condition.
An evacuation area included nearly 1,000 homes and initial shelter orders included schools.
Operators shut off the flow of natural gas liquids in the pipeline, but so much remained in the kilometres of tubing that firefighters could do nothing but watch and hose down adjacent homes.
