Boston explosions: 8,000 people evacuated and teenager dies amid 70 blasts and fires

Colin Drury, The Independent 5 hours ago

The sheer scale of a series of gas explosions which ripped through three Boston neighborhoods and killed a teenager became apparent on Friday as it emerged 8,000 people had been evacuated.

Some 70 separate fires, blasts and gas odors were reported during the incident, in which 18-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed by a falling chimney.

Firefighters spoke of having to race from one blaze to another as explosions leveled buildings in the neighborhoods of Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

At least 13 people were treated in hospital for injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to blast trauma.

Fire chief Michael Mansfield said investigators suspected “over-pressurization of a gas main” caused the incident on Thursday.

I have no evidence to suggest this, never-the-less the thought of terrorism persists. I can understand one branch of a gas line failing. This event involves 70 fires over at least three communities. It seems like if there weren’t redundant safety features throughout the system, this would be a more common occurrence. Is this the first step in a”proof of concept?”

I guess we will see.