Sugar Refinery Blast: Bodies Found

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (AP) - Georgia's top fire official says
firefighters have found three bodies in a still-burning sugar
refinery near Savannah. And he says they think they know the
location of three others believed killed in an explosion last
night.
State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said
the three bodies were found in tunnels beneath the building.
But local authorities say they haven't heard of any bodies being
recovered, and aren't confirming the deaths. A county police
sergeant says crews are "still going through the rubble."
About 100 people were working inside the refinery when the
explosion engulfed the building in flames. More than 30 people were
taken to hospitals. Some were airlifted to a burn center in
Augusta, 130 miles away. Several are reported to be in critical
condition.
Fires continue to burn in parts of the facility. Fire officials
say they've started clearing debris so they can move farther into
the plant. They predict the fires could be out by this afternoon.
Officials haven't determined what caused the explosion, but they
suspect sugar dust, which can be volatile.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)