Posted on August 21, 2020
Firefighters are responding to a major fire along refinery row.
The incident happened just after 8:05 a.m. near Lantana and I-37. We’re being told maybe at EPIC Products near Lantana and Navigation.
Firefighters said the fire ignited at barge which at this point is fully engulfed. The fire then spread from the pipeline to the grain elevator.
We know multiple people during the explosion ended up in the water.
CHRISTUS Spohn Shoreline representatives said they are treating four people from the explosion. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.
Two victims victims are being flown to Brooke Army Medical Center burn units in San Antonio.
Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb said there is a search and rescue operation for four people who are still missing.
KRIS 6 News has learned that EPIC Products had a brand new pipeline built for loading.
We’re told the new pipeline was going in at the facility and that there was a pipeline rupture at the barge loading dock.
According to Lieutenant Marina Lyons, with the US Coast Guard, a dredge struck a submerged pipeline causing a fire in the Corpus Christi ship channel. So the Port has shutdown the while inner harbor toward the Harbor Bridge.
The owner of the barge said they had multiple employees working at the site at the time of the explosion.
Corpus Christi police department has closed off Lantana Street to traffic as crews work to contain the inferno.
Source: KRIS 6 NEWS
