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A chemical explosion damaged an industrial park so severely that fire and rescue crews are unable to enter the building to search for a missing worker, officials say.
An explosion so powerful it moved an industrial-sized vat about 30 feet, from inside the building to a parking lot, was reported at 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 4 at 9 Opportunity Way in Newburyport, according to the Newburyport Fire Department.
Equipment blew through the roof and was strewn across the parking lot when firefighters arrived on scene. Heavy fire and smoke was emanating from the building.
PCI Synthesis, a pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer, is registered at the address where the explosion, which was declared a level three hazmat incident, occurred.
Five workers were in the building at the time of the explosion, four of whom were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released.
The fifth worker remains unaccounted for. Major structural damage to the building has prevented firefighters and technical rescue crews from entering the building to begin to search for the missing worker.
Residents in the area are in no danger, the Newburyport Fire Department said. Workers in the industrial park are asked to avoid Opportunity Way.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is assisting with the incident.
Mutual aid was provided by:
- State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey
- East Kingston, N.H. Fire Chief Ed Warren
- Amesbury Fire Chief Jim Nolan and Deputy Chief David Mather
- Northeast Technical Rescue Team
- North Reading Fire
- Department of Fire Services Technical Rescue
- Hazardous Material and Incident Rehab Units
- North Andover Fire Chief John Weir
- Cataldo Ambulance
- Ipswich Fire Department
- Salisbury Fire Department
- Newbury Fire Department
- Seabrook Fire Department
- West Newbury Fire Department
- Georgetown Fire Department
- Groveland Fire Department
- Haverhill Fire Department
- Rowley Fire Department
- Hampton, New Hampshire Fire Department
- North Hampton, New Hampshire Fire Department
Danvers, Lawrence, and Topsfield Fire Departments covered Newburyport Fire Department stations.
This situation is developing. Check back here for updates as they are available.
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