Explosion in oilfield injures 6 workers. 2 airlifted, Mississippi officials say

An explosion at an oilfield injured six workers and all were transported to local hospitals, , Mississippi officials said.

Two were airlifted and four were taken by ambulance, Minor Normal, fire coordinator for Madison County told McClatchy News.

Norman said the workers were “severely” burned and some had life-threatening wounds.

“It was a bad incident as far as injuries,” he said.

The explosion happened while employees were working on an oil storage tank at around 8 a.m. on July 29, Albert Jones, director of emergency management for Madison County told McClatchy News.

The workers were at the site to do maintenance on four storage tanks, fire officials at the scene said, according to WAPT..

The tanks are located in a wooded area near Bentonia and owned by W.S. Red Hancock, an oilfield construction and mechanical fabrication company, Jones said.

Bentonia is about 30 miles north of Jackson.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, Jones said. He did not have an update on the conditions of the workers.

Firefighters who responded found welding equipment at the scene, along with four storage tanks containing salt water and petroleum products, Norman said. One tank had been blown into the woods and another was burning when firefighters arrived.

Four area fire departments responded and firefighters worked to cool the tank while the fire burned itself out, he said.

“It was a big operation when it was going on,” he said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate, Norman said.

A man who answered the phone at W.S. Red Hancock said he could not provide any information on the incident.