Officials evacuated an entire small town in Texas after a nearby pipeline exploded.
A 10-inch liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline in Milford, Texas ruptured on Thursday, November 14, 2013 when a construction crew accidentally drilled into it. Flames and smoke towered into the air and could be seen from several miles away.
No injuries were reported, but nearby homes and schools were evacuated and several roads were closed. Milford has a population of around 700 and is located some 50 miles south of Dallas.
Chevron Corporation owns the pipeline in question. Later that day, the corporation reported that the flow of gas to the pipeline had been shut off, but that the residual burn continued. A larger LPG pipeline that runs near and parallel to the ruptured line was still flowing. Chevron said that its continued operation would keep the line cooler, decreasing the risk that it might rupture as well.
The following day, air quality tests appeared normal. Residents were allowed to return to their homes briefly to gather possessions, but were not allowed to return permanently at that time.
The line is part of a 2,300-mile system called the West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership, which transports liquefied gas products from New Mexico to a processing plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas.
Pipeline explosions continue to present a threat to life and property across America; the vast majority of pipelines are very old and in desperate need of replacement with modern materials.
If you suffer injury or property damage due to a pipeline explosion, be sure to consult with an attorney with extensive experience in this type of case.
We Focus our Practice Exclusively on Wrongful Death and Critical Injury Cases – Contact a personal injury lawyer at The Lietz Law Firm by calling 866-554-1238 or learn more by visiting http://www.lietzlaw.com/.
