2020 Houston explosion
DateJanuary 24, 2020 (2020-01-24)
LocationHouston, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates29°50′13″N 95°32′44″W / 29.8369°N 95.5456°W / 29.8369; -95.5456
Deaths3
Non-fatal injuries18
Property damage200 nearby buildings damaged

On January 24, 2020, a building at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in northwest Houston, Texas, United States, exploded at 4:24 a.m.[1][2] Debris was scattered as far as one-half mile (0.8 km),[3] and approximately 200 nearby houses and businesses were damaged.[4] Officials asked local residents to search for debris and body parts to assist with an investigation into the explosion's cause.[5] An absence of zoning ordinances separating industrial areas from residences is known to prevail in the vicinity of the explosion.[1]

Two deaths were reported on the morning of the incident.[6] Both men were employees of Watson Grinding and Manufacturing.[5] A third man, whose home was impacted by debris from the explosion, died from his injuries on February 5.[7] Eighteen people "self reported" to emergency rooms for minor injuries.[8] Forty-eight people sought shelter from Red Cross,[9] and two schools in the vicinity were closed for the day.[10] Some homes near the facility were blasted off their foundations, and some had collapsed ceilings, shattered windows, and bent garage doors.[11]

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives personnel assisted the Houston Fire and Police Departments with the investigation. Multiple lawsuits have already been filed.[12]

Watson Grinding and Manufacturing filed for bankruptcy in February 2020.[13]

Cause

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final investigation report on June 29, 2023. According to the CSB "On the day prior to the incident, January 23, 2020, the coating booth operators shut down the individual booths following a normal workday, and the Coating Supervisor closed and locked the coating building. On this day, the Coating Supervisor did not close either of the two manual shutoff valves located at the propylene storage tank, which should have isolated the propylene storage tank from the piping that supplied propylene vapor to the coating building."[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hauser, Christine; Specia, Megan (January 24, 2020). "Two Dead in Explosion at Houston Plant". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Moritz, John C. (January 24, 2020). "Massive explosion felt across Houston, shaking city and scattering debris". USA Today. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ Davis, Maia (January 24, 2020). "Houston building explosion is felt for miles, scatters debris". NBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ Hanna, Jason; Alonso, Melissa; Johnston, Chuck (January 24, 2020). "An explosion at a manufacturing business has shaken northwest Houston". CNN. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Delony, Doug (24 January 2020). "2 killed in massive explosion in northwest Houston". KHOU.
  6. ↑ Kennedy, Merrit (January 24, 2020). "At Least 2 People Killed In Massive Industrial Explosion In Houston". NPR. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. ↑ Jordan, Jay R. (February 7, 2020). "Third person dies from injuries in Gessner explosion, attorneys say". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2020-02-08. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  8. ↑ Barned-Smith, St. John; Jordan, Jay R. (January 24, 2020). "The latest: 2 killed, 200 homes damaged in massive west Houston explosion". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ Watkins, Katie; Land, Davis (January 24, 2020). "Police: 2 Dead After Building Explosion Shakes Houston, Damages Nearby Homes". Houston Public Media.
  10. ↑ Brumfield, Loyd (January 24, 2020). "2 dead after massive explosion rocks Houston, destroys homes after gas leak at manufacturing plant". Dallas News.
  11. ↑ "Houston mayor, others help residents after deadly blast". AP News. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  12. ↑ Webb, Shelby; Medley, Alison (January 24, 2020). "Neighbors begin filing lawsuits after homes damaged in west Houston warehouse explosion". Houston Chronicle.
  13. ↑ Mathews, Chris (February 6, 2020). "Watson Grinding files for bankruptcy, lays off 88 workers weeks after deadly explosion". Houston Business Journal.
  14. ↑ "Fatal Propylene Release and Explosion at Watson Grinding" (PDF). U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. CSB. Retrieved 1 July 2023.


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