LOGAN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — The investigation is underway after a massive industrial explosion in South Jersey sent five people to the hospital on Wednesday.
Firefighters remain on the scene Thursday morning, blasting water onto hot spots, and hazmat crews continue to monitor runoff.
The blast in Logan Township, Gloucester County was felt across the immediate area, even across the river in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
“I heard a really loud boom – it shook our whole building. You could feel it go through you,” said James Barber, who works in the industrial complex. “I thought maybe someone hit our building.”
A nearby doorbell camera captured the loud boom, while other videos showed a plume of black smoke and debris thrown into nearby trees.
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“The whole sky was a plume of smoke,” another witness said. “I saw all the collapse units, technical rescue teams and hazmat coming from different counties. It was bad when I got here.”
It happened around 2:36 p.m. on Wednesday at Savita Naturals, a commercial facility on the 600 block of Heron Drive in Swedesboro that processes cocoa butter for the chocolate industry.
Debris seen in nearby trees after NJ explosion
Officials said four of the injured individuals were taken to the hospital in critical condition, including the owner of the facility, according to a relative who spoke with Action News.
Another person from a nearby facility had a medical emergency and was also hospitalized in unknown condition.
All employees at the facility were accounted for, according to officials.
Video shows aftermath of explosion in Logan Township, New Jersey
“I’m in my 25th year. This is the largest industrial accident that I can recall,” said Logan Twp. Police Chief Joseph Flatley. “The community is safe. There are no ongoing hazards. The air quality is continuing to be monitored.”
A shelter-in-place order was issued within a two-mile radius of the blast, but has since been lifted.
Several propane tanks used for production are on the decades-old site, but the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation.
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