Chicago Water Purification Plant Explosion Injures Two

An explosion in a primary drinking water plant in Chicago did not affect city water supplies reported the Chicago Tribune. The explosion--attributed at this time to a propane tank--at the Jardine Water Purification Plant in Chicago left two people injured.

The explosion was reported to have happened around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at the plant near Navy Pier, a highly visited tourist site. The tank was in an underground construction area at the plant.

"It appears to be just an industrial accident," said ,Tom LaPorte, spokesman for the city Water Department, reported CLTV. The water supply, he said, appeared to be untouched by the incident. Filtration procedures continued even throughout evacuation of the site.

City emergency crews including a Chicago Police Marine Unit boat responded quickly. One man was treated for minor injuries at the scene, and another man sustained burns and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago Fire Chief Dennis Gault reported to the Tribune. The victim’s condition was not immediately available, but authorities said his burns appeared to be minor.

Terrorism was not suspected in this incident.

Source: Chicago Tribune