Posted on 02/07/2008 7:10:00 PM PST by najida
PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (AP) - Authorities in Savannah say dozens of people were injured in an explosion and fire at a sugar refinery that was felt by residents throughout the suburb of Port Wentworth.
No deaths are reported immediately at the plant owned by Imperial Sugar and known as a longtime Savannah landmark as the Dixie Crystals plant. But a witness describes widespread damage.
Sergeant Mike Wilson of the Savannah-Chatham County police says there are an unconfirmed number of injuries, but possible from 50 to 100.
Ther is not immediate word of what caused the explosion about 7 p.m.
Nakishya Hill, a machine operator, says she escaped from the third floor by climbing down to the first. Hill says there was fire all over the building. She heard a loud boom, and when she got up, half of the floor was gone. She says the first and second floors were covered in debris.
(Excerpt) Read more at wistv.com ...
Also there are 60 people not accounted for....
The Sugar Reinfery (Dixie Crystals) has been a part of Savannah as long as I can remember.
Things get over dramatized at times like this, but simply the numbers taken to burn unit is a shock.
Sugar does burn rapidly. How awful. Prayers to your friends, neighbors, and everyone at the factory.
Oh no! Prayers up.
Prays up. Please post an update when more info becomes available.
Prayers going right out...I hope all your friends & neighbors are safe & I will be praying for them. ~Pandy~
The refinery has been around since the 1930’s.....and the refinery a major employer here.
The Dr. is on the TV now....32 serious injuries (burns and blast effects) and 8 to 10 will be sent to Augusta. Sheesh, this can’t be happening here.
I’m here in Midway (Liberty County) but I work in west Savannah..been here since 1985 and I can’t believe it’s happening here either..
They are discussing growing up around here, families identified themselves either as Union Bag or Dixie Crystals (depending on which plant on the river employed them).
Port Wentworth schools are closed tomorrow....they are using the buses to take family members to a staging area.
Oh, najida! How horrible! Prayers are being lifted up right now, for those injured, trapped, and (God forbid) families of those who may have perished!
Prayers from Albany.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.