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5 utility workers hospitalized after explosion in KCK

2 workers already have been released
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Posted at 9:17 PM, May 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-26 22:17:55-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five Kansas City Board of Public Utilities workers were taken to the hospital after an explosion on Monday night in Kansas City, Kansas.

Electric operations personnel were restoring services to the “Center City 15-4 circuit,” according to a KCKBPU news release, and underground crews were called to assist. As crews attempted to operate a switch at Eighth Street and Nebraska Avenue, “the switch failed catastrophically causing a large explosion and arc flash to ascend from the manhole around 9:30 p.m.”

“Along with the flash, the oil content of the switch was also blasted out of the hole and into the surrounding area blanketing the personnel and equipment on site in extremely hot oil,” the release stated.

Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department crews responded to the scene, and all five BPU workers were taken to KU Medical Center.

“Additional personnel took over the restoration efforts and electric operations leadership took control of the physical scene including direct communication with the KCKFD & BPU Environmental personnel to properly handle the cleanup of the scene,” the release stated.

Two employees were released Tuesday morning, one is expected to be released Wednesday and two “will remain in the hospital for a few days.”