Merrimack Valley gas explosions

Merrimack Valley gas explosions
A house damaged by a gas explosion
DateSeptember 13, 2018 (2018-09-13)
Time4:15 pm (Eastern Daylight Time)[1]
Duration2 hours 30 minutes (estimated)[a]
LocationMassachusetts, United States
TypeFires
CauseOver-pressurized gas mains
ParticipantsColumbia Gas Feeney Brothers
OutcomeCost is greater than $1 billion in property damage, personal injury, infrastructure damage and mutual aid payments to other utilities that helped in the recovery and restoration efforts.
Deaths1[2]
Non-fatal injuries25+ [3][4]
Property damage60–100 homes[5]

On September 13, 2018, excessive pressure in natural gas lines owned by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts caused a series of explosions and fires to occur in as many as 40 homes, with over 80 individual fires, in the towns of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, all within the Merrimack Valley, in Massachusetts, United States. One person, 18-year-old Leonel Rondon, was killed and 30,000 were forced to evacuate their homes immediately.[6][7]

  1. ^ Tim Stelloh and Tom Winter (September 13, 2018). "Gas explosion in Massachusetts leaves one dead". NBC News. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "1 dead after Columbia Gas pressure issue leaves homes leveled, burned". WCVB Boston. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Vanessa Romo (September 13, 2018). "Multiple Explosions And Fires Reported Across 3 Mass. Towns, At Least 10 Injured". NPR. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  4. ^ Chavez, Nicole. "Homes burn in 3 Massachusetts towns after suspected gas explosions". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Jessica Valeriani (May 8, 2019). "Rivera : No Way to Pay for Gas Disaster Distress". Eagle Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "'How did this happen?': Gas blasts set homes ablaze, triggering chaos in Massachusetts". Washington Post. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "More than 30 homes catch fire after natural gas issues north of Boston; 4 injured". USA Today. Retrieved September 13, 2018.


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