One person was killed and at least five people were injured in the blast — tentatively described as an accident — as Colonial Pipeline shut down operations black smoke billowed, sending millions into a panic over the abrupt and unexpected coming gas shortage.
“Our deepest condolences go out tonight to the family and friends of the person who was lost today, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured,” Colonial said in a statement, reported NBC News.
Cited by the Chicago Tribune, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said the explosion occurred roughly a mile west of last month’s rupture, adding of the likely crippling shortage of fuel, “We’ll just hope and pray for the best.”
“It appears to have been an accident, and they’re allowing fuel to burn,” Bentley told WBRC. “It’s about one mile west of where the repair took place on the Colonial Pipeline just recently.”
#LiveOn3340: @BrianPia3340 reports on Colonial Pipeline company history after today’s explosion in Shelby County https://t.co/6JjMNC6sce pic.twitter.com/Y8nT2Wo81s— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) October 31, 2016