Several Workers Hurt In NH Plant Explosion
PETERBOROUGH, NH (CBS) - Several people were injured in an explosion at the New Hampshire Ball Bearing plant in Peterborough Monday afternoon. Aerial video from the scene shows windows blown out of the plant on Jaffrey Road.
Firefighters from approximately 10 nearby towns were dispatched to the scene. Ambulances transported 11 people to the hospital. Two of the people transported were considered to be in critical condition, four were in serious condition. An additional two people were treated at an area hospital as walk-ins. No firefighters or rescue workers were injured.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but all indications are that it was an industrial related incident.
There were 450 workers in the plant at the time of the explosion. The building was evacuated and will remain closed until it is deemed safe and structurally sound. It was reported that the explosion could be felt at businesses up to a 1/4 mile away.
Governor Maggie Hassan opened the State Emergency Operations Center in response to the situation at the plant.
Governor Hassan issued the following statement:
"My thoughts and prayers go out to those injured in today's explosion, to their families and loved ones, and to the entire Peterborough area where NH Ball Bearings is such an important member of the community. While we are still gathering details about the explosion, we are very encouraged to hear that all employees have been accounted for. The state has activated our Emergency Operations Center in order to better coordinate state resources and we stand ready to provide any assistance needed to local first responders."
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