Jan. 24, 2019 Update: According to Enbridge, the company is securing the explosion site in for an investigation, and is working with investigators at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Enbridge says it is conducting air, soil and water monitoring on-site. The company says there is no estimated timeline, but it is working on a plan for the pipeline to return to service.
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Residents in Noble County, Ohio, about a two hours drive west of Pittsburgh, are recovering after a natural gas pipeline explosion rocked their community on Monday morning. Two people were injured, and three homes were damaged.
The mother of a 12-year old boy who suffered second degree burns on the back of his head, neck and legs says she is thankful he’s alive today. The family did not want to be identified. They’re staying at a hotel because the only thing left of their home after the explosion and fire is the basement.
The pipeline that exploded in eastern Ohio was more than 65 years old, and is part of the Texas Eastern Pipeline system owned by the Canadian company Enbridge. It’s a transmission line that carries natural gas from the Gulf Coast to the Mid Atlantic, and runs through southern Pennsylvania. Its part of the same system that ruptured in Westmoreland County in 2016, badly burning one man.
Enbridge says it’s working with state and federal regulators to determine the cause, and to monitor repairs and environmental impacts.
In a statement, the company says that an inspection of the pipeline in 2012 found that it did not need remediation.
PIPELINE EXPLOSION: Helicopter footage from WCMH shows the aftermath of the gas line rupture in Noble County, Ohio. At least one person was injured at two homes are believed to be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/3HV6YODjwK
— WTRF 7News (@WTRF7News) January 21, 2019
