USA: CALIFORNIA: EXPLOSION ROCKS OIL REFINERY

Описание: (22 Jan 1997) Natural Sound

An explosion has rocked an oil refinery near the west coast of the U-S, killing one man and injuring 25 others.

So far it is not known what triggered the explosion in a hydro-cracking unit at Martinez in northern California.

The flames from the explosion at the Tosco Refining Company lit up the night sky over Martinez in northern California late Tuesday.

Residents who live close to the refinery say the force of the explosion was so extreme that it shook their homes.

The one fatality was confirmed by the plant's manager.

Earlier, company officials confirmed an employee had apparently punched into work Tuesday but could not be accounted for.

The identity of the worker has not been released.

It has not been confirmed if the fatality was the missing employee.

Of the 25 people injured - 12 were taken to hospitals and the remainder were treated at the scene.

The explosion occurred in a hydro-cracking unit at the refinery.

The unit produces gasoline from a diesel-like substance.

So far, authorities and company officials say they don't know what caused the explosion.

The company says the smoke released from the fire was not toxic and therefore not harmful to residents living near the plant, located about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

The Tosco Corporation is one of the largest independent refiners and retail fuel marketers in the United States.

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