At least 18 people were hurt during a natural gas blast in Springfield, Massachusetts’s entertainment district at around 6 pm tonight. The explosion at the Scores Gentlemen’s Club, leveled the local strip club, and also damaged a five-story building and a nearby day care. A tattoo parlor a block and a half away also experienced property damage from the incident.
The blast happened after gas workers had wrapped up their investigation of the smell of gas in the area. They had evacuated the street and were just about to let people return when the explosion occurred.
Spokespeople at Mercy Medical Center and Baystate Medical Center say that none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Among those hurt were 10 firefighters and cops and three gas workers. One dancer from the strip club reportedly told The Republican that the smell of gas had been present for a while. She says the gas company even checked it out earlier this week.
Natural Gas Explosions
Natural gas blasts can cause serious injuries, including severe burns, and disfigurement. Depending on the source/cause of explosion and the severity of the accident, victims may have grounds for Boston personal injury recovery. Possible liable parties might include the company that provides the gas, the party responsible for installing or repairing the source of the gas, and/or the party that owns the property where the gas source is located.
Sometimes, a natural gas explosion can occur because of an appliance malfunction that causes hazardous gas accumulations. Appliances that have been linked to natural gas blasts include water heaters, space heaters, gas lights, heating systems, central cooling systems, outdoor grills, ovens, ranges, cooktops, fireplace logs, dryers, gas generators, and pool heaters.
Contact a Massachusetts natural gas explosion attorney to explore your legal options. If you were a worker injured in a natural gas blast, you may be entitled to Massachusetts work injury benefits.
Springfield explosion injures at least 18, levels strip club, Boston.com, November 23, 2012
Downtown Springfield building explodes following, MassLive, November 23, 2012
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