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PortandTerminal.com, August 21, 2020
CORPUS CHRISTI – Six people have been hospitalized after a pipeline exploded Friday in Corpus Christi’s port and refinery district, officials said.
The fire was reported about 8 a.m. near Nueces Bay in the northern part of the city. Flames and a large plume of black smoke were visible.
KRISTV is reporting that Lieutenant Marina Lyons (USCG) has said that a dredge struck a submerged pipeline causing a fire in the Corpus Christi ship channel.
Firefighters said the fire ignited a barge which at this point is fully engulfed. The fire then spread from the pipeline to the grain elevator.
Six people were transported to a hospital, Corpus Christi Fire Department Chief Robert Rocha told local media. Details about the extent of their injuries weren’t immediately released. Two additional people refused treatment, Rocha said.
“We’re trying to get a headcount of everybody that may have been involved or anybody who may have been around when the incident occurred,” Rocha said.
Corpus Christi is home to a number of oil refineries and shipping ports, and has become an important exporting locale for crude oil. Valero on Friday said operations at its refinery were normal.
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