Powerful Explosion Causes Heavy Damage in Canada

A gas explosion on Thursday injured a man and caused heavy property damage in Quebec's East Hereford bordering Vermont State, USA.

The explosion was so powerful that windows as far as 25 kilometers away were reported shaken. A gas company employee was severely burned and pulled out of the wreckage of the TQM pipeline compression station building two hours after the blast occurred at about 5:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT), Quebec police said.

A nearby electrical building was completely torn down.

"We felt the house shake," said local resident Suzanne Inkel. " There was a big boom and my son saw the fireball. Then it went dark," she said.

About 25 firefighters rushed to the scene to battle the flames after the explosion.

The station compressed natural gas bound for the United States, according to Robert Heider, vice-president of TQM Pipeline.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.






People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/