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KHSB-TV via Reuters
Firefighters working at the scene of a fire triggered by a natural gas explosion in Kansas City on Tuesday night.
At least 14 people were injured and two others were missing after a fire triggered by a natural gas explosion Tuesday in an upscale business and shopping district of Kansas City, Mo., authorities said.
Kansas City police said the blast occurred about 6 p.m. (7 p.m. ET) outside JJ's Restaurant in Country Club Plaza. Enormous flames tore into the night sky outside the restaurant, which was at the center of the fire and was destroyed, NBC station KSHB reported.
Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi told a news conference that the cause of the explosion was under investigation but said foul play was not suspected.
Early Wednesday, KSHB quoted Berardi as saying that a man and a woman were missing.
"We are concerned that there may be additional people that were not able to get out of the structure," Berardi told reporters. "I always fear there may be fatalities in a situation like this."
A statement released by the Missouri Gas Energy company said early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line, but the investigation continues.
At the news conference, Berardi said MGE had turned off the gas at 8 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) and there was no danger of another explosion occurring in the area. The chief acknowledged the department had received earlier reports of gas odor in the area.
Authorities had told NBC News earlier in the evening that the explosion occurred when a car struck a gas main.
"Get out! You are not safe right here! Please!" rescue crews could be heard urging people who were trying to get a look at the scene in the blast's aftermath.
"Fire is mostly under control," Kansas City Mayor Sly James said on Twitter at about 8 p.m. ET, but numerous crews remained on the scene nearly an hour later as flames spewing thick, black smoke continued to burn.
Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Chief Paul Berardi and Mayor Sly James hold a news conference to update the media on the explosion and fire that burned down a landmark restaurant. Video courtesy KSHB-TV.
According to The Associated Press, City Manager Troy Schulte said he had not heard of any fatalities and was not aware of anyone being reported missing. After 10:30 p.m. ET, authorities began searching the scene with cadaver dogs.
At least 11 ambulances responded, fire officials said. A physician at Saint Luke's Hospital said in a brief news conference the hospital had received five patients, including two patients in critical condition -- one with severe burns and another with deep lacerations.
University of Kansas Hospital had received six injured people, including two in serious condition and one critical. Two patients drove themselves in with minor injuries.
Two patients arrived at the Research Medical Center, and another at the Truman Medical Center.
Witnesses told KSHB that they smelled natural gas in the area of the restaurant at least an hour before the explosion.
The blast occurred during the dinner hour at JJ's Restaurant, a Kansas City institution dating to 1985. JJ's is widely regarded as one of the best dinner spots in the Midwest, earning a 93 rating from Zagat's, and its wine cellar has been listed by The Wine Spectator as one of the finest in the world.
Carlo Dellaverson, Sossy Dombourian, Gina Gentilesco and Zoya Khan of NBC News contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:51 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
Surprised to see that NBC hasn't corrected its mistakes, with over 3 hours since the explosion. It's the Country Club Plaza (pretty sure there isn't a Century Club Plaza here!). Also, they haven't reported that it was a car that caused it since 6:40CST! Come on & at least make corrections to your story as the local media does theirs! Backhoe working on construction on that street hit a gas line.
Do not confuse the NEWS Reporters with the FACTS...
On local news stories, network news depends on local affiliates for their information so any complaints about faulty reporting should first be directed to the local reporters that sent in their reports, not the network who have to trust their sources, at least early in the coverage.
My prayers are for the injured! Safety is always an issue in cities all over America. We have learned to fear each other, natural disasters, and now structural defects. Let's all be careful out there!
I've never been to Missouri. Is this anywhere near the medical district or the Children's Hospital?
The location is only about 5 blocks from a level 1 trauma center which is Saint Luke's Hospital. It is about 6 or 8 miles from Children's and Truman Medical Center which is also a level one trauma center. I think it is about 10 miles from KU Hospital which is a level one trauma center and the regional burn center.
Best wishes to those injured and their families! It is a blessing it happened early in the week as the Plaza is a very busy place towards the end of the week and on weekends.
KU Med is actually only a couple miles from the Plaza, and just a few minutes in an ambulance. Truman is a couple more miles away.
Hopefully no deaths, and injuries will be recoverable. Nearby apartment buildings and businesses also have serious damage, although no injuries reported anywhere other than the historic JJs.
This is Sad news. May GOD give the Courage and Strength to the injured to recover and get healed quickly. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
We need to ban natural gas.
Still think Nuclear Power is the enemy.These accidents happen every year a gas main blows people are burned to death,but nuclear is the dragon of death.
Hydrocarbons need to go and find a safe power.
can anyone tell me why at the end of the article they throw in some restaurant cred, just in case you were thinking of finding a place with a good wine selection in the midwest..
Left wing Obama extremist's are at it again. They're pissed off over the keystone pipeline. We'll see how extremist they are when gas hits $7.00 per gallon this summer. Left wing nut jobs!
musician54 - The Keystone Pipeline is designed to take Canadian oil to the Gulf of Mexico, where it will be shipped overseas to world markets. It will provide zero - ZERO - relief for gas prices in the United States this summer or any summer. Do some research before you make stupid comments unrelated to the story. And my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the public service employees who are today's heroes.
Read stupid, if you can, pay close attention to "refineries" and "Midwest"
Keystone Pipeline
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Keystone Pipeline
(Finished Phase 1)[1]
Keystone Pipeline Route (all phases, operational and proposed)
Location
Country
Canada
United States
From
Hardisty, Alberta
Passes through
Regina, Saskatchewan
Steele City, Nebraska
To
Wood River, Illinois
Patoka, Illinois (end)
General information
Type
Crude oil
Owner
TransCanada
Construction started
2008
Commissioned
June 2010
Technical information
Length
3,456 km (2,147 mi)
Maximum discharge
0.59 Mbbl/d (~2.9×10^7 t/a)
Diameter
30 in (762 mm)
Number of pumping stations
39
Cushing Extension
(Finished Phase 2)[1]
Location
Country
United States
From
Steele City, Nebraska
To
Cushing, Oklahoma
General information
Type
Crude oil
Commissioned
February 2011
Technical information
Length
480 km (300 mi)
Diameter
36 in (914 mm)
Number of pumping stations
4
Gulf Coast Pipeline Project
(Proposed Phase 3a)[1]
Location
Country
United States
From
Cushing, Oklahoma
Passes through
Liberty County, Texas
To
Nederland, Texas
General information
Type
Crude oil
Expected
June 2012 - Mid-late 2013[1]
Technical information
Length
780 km (480 mi)
Diameter
36 in (914 mm)
Houston Lateral Project
(Proposed Phase 3b)[1]
Location
Country
United States
From
Liberty County, Texas
To
Houston, Texas
General information
Type
Crude oil
Expected
Unknown
Technical information
Length
76 km (47 mi)
Steele City Expansion
(Proposed Phase 4)[1]
Location
Country
Canada
United States
From
Hardisty, Alberta
Passes through
Baker, Montana
To
Steele City, Nebraska
General information
Type
Crude oil
Expected
Unknown
Technical information
Length
1,897 km (1,179 mi)
Diameter
36 in (914 mm)
The Keystone Pipeline System is a pipeline system to transport synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen ("dilbit") from the Athabasca oil sands region in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States, which include refineries in Illinois, the Cushing oil distribution hub in Oklahoma, and proposed connections to refineries[2][3] along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
It consists of the operational "Keystone Pipeline" and "Keystone-Cushing Extension", and two proposed pipeline expansion segments, referred to as Keystone XL Pipeline and the Gulf Coast Project. After the Keystone XL pipeline segments are completed, American crude oil would enter the XL pipelines at Baker, Montana and Cushing, Oklahoma.[1]
The Keystone XL has faced lawsuits from oil refineries and criticism from environmentalists and some members of the United States Congress. In January 2012, President Obama rejected the application amid protests about the pipeline's impact on Nebraska's environmentally sensitive Sand Hills region.[4] On March 22 Obama endorsed the building of its southern half that begins in Cushing, Okla. The President said in Cushing OK on March 22, “Today, I’m directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles, and make this project a priority, to go ahead and get it done.”
Those types of injuries, severe burns, are something I would not wish on any person! As a burn survivor myself, I can attest to the pain and length of recovery. Thankfully, only thirty percent of my body was affected. There are decisions about skin grafts versus other treatments, the length or existence of drug-induced coma and many other things to consider when someone is severely burned like this poor person most likely is. I hope those affected have a speedy recovery.
"Witnesses told KSHB that they smelled natural gas in the area of the restaurant at least an hour before the explosion" Really, people?! Have a head! If you smell gas, report it!
The KC Star reported witnesses reported the smell of gas around 1 PM. The restaurant was canceling reservations an hour before the explosion. The gas company was at JJ's at 5:20 and were in no hurry to evacuate. A doctors group across the alley wasn't told to evacuate until 2 minutes before it blew. The backhoe was digging a couple blocks to the east. Why was JJ's the only place to explode? Seems there is a lot of blame to go around.
Really. Found this out on the BBC. I guess we are too worried about "blade runner" and the death of his girlfriend. Sad. Went back to NBC and it still was a sideline.
I hope the injured make a speedy recovery. I also hope that Nicodemus1946 is running for office in 2016 he has my vote what he said is so true.
Is it just me, or has there been quiet a few gas explosions lately?
Not to my knowledge, please provide links and sources.
I live right by there, and the smell of gas was reported as early as 1pm. If that "homeless" guy who returned the ring was in his normal spot, he had a hell of a view.
People shouldn't be so quick to blame the construction company. I know of a couple of cases where the construction company did call before they dug and caused damage anyway. It happened because the lines were marked incorrectly.
We really need to wait until there's an investigation before assigning blame.
Hmmmm.... When did the construction crew report the ruptured pipe to MGE when it happened at 1 PM? Did they continue working throughout the afternoon with the obvious smell of gas? If they contacted MGE... what was the response from MGE?
There are a TON of questions to be answered in this tragedy. So let me fill in a few details gleaned from the KC Star. Residents were reporting the smell of gas at 1 PM and were told by the crew that they were aware of the rupture the backhoe had caused. The restaurant was canceling reservations at 5PM because of the gas smell. The fire department showed up at 5:20 and told the patrons that the utility crew would be there shortly. Utility crew arrived at 5:30 and didn't advise evacuation until just before the blast. A physicians group across the alley was told to evacuate just 2 minutes before the blast. And the gas was not shut off until 8 PM?
And JJ said "Dynamite"
This tragedy does not need or appreciate your childish sense of humor. Two are still missing. One is a young female server at the restaurant. Three others are in very critical condition. One severely burned. You seem to have the mind of a serial killer, or at least one in waiting.
This is happening more and more !! Here is Springfield Ma, the gas company has ONLY paid 1 millions dollars in damages there are over 40 buildings in ruins !!It will cost at least 65 million to bring back BUT the gas company will drag there feet to screw all involved. They came out on the day of explosion and promised all would be taken care of LIES!!!!!!!! and the Mayor of Springfield isn't doing a thing ! Maybe a bit of pay off ??? $$$$$$ they are all corrupt.
SOMETHING ELSE FOR GUN-GRABBERS TO BAN: NATURAL GAS. ©2013
You never know when your time is up. What a tragedy. My condolences to all the individuals involved who lost or can not locate a loved one.
We need better backhoe control....More laws...Chop,Chop...
a silent prayer for those affected. wishing for stricter regulations on safety regarding this type of thing