A deadly explosion that sparked a geyser of fire has shut down a vital pipeline supplying gasoline to millions of people across the Southeast, raising fears of another round of gas shortages and price increases after the pipeline’s second accident and shutdown in two months.
Continuing fires in the drought-stricken area of central Alabama hampered officials’ efforts to fully assess the damage Tuesday afternoon, and firefighters built an earthen berm to contain the burning fuel.
The accident happened when a dirt-moving track hoe struck the pipeline, ignited gasoline and sparked a blast Monday, killing one worker and injuring five others, Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline said.
Four of the injured remained hospitalized, Colonial spokesman Bill Berry said Tuesday in nearby Helena, Ala. UAB Hospital, where the injured were treated, declined to release information on them.
Another worker was treated and released from a hospital, Berry said.
The company said it hoped to restart the pipeline as early as the weekend. As much as 168,000 gallons of gasoline could have burned, spilled, evaporated or remained in the pipeline, the company said.
The explosion happened a few miles from where the Colonial pipeline sprung a leak and spilled 252,000 to 336,000 gallons of gasoline in September. After the leak, the company used one of Colonial’s two main lines to move gasoline as it made repairs, but it still led to days of dry pumps and higher gas prices in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas while repairs were made.