SWEDESBORO, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Four people are critically injured after an explosion at an industrial facility in Logan Township, Gloucester County.
The explosion occurred shortly after 2:30pm at Savita Naturals, in an industrial section of Logan Township known as “Pureland,” according to county officials.
Authorities said the four people injured in the blast, presumed to be employees, are in critical condition. A fifth person suffered what officials said was a “medical emergency” and was also brought to the hospital.
“Savita Naturals is a commercial facility where they process cocoa butter for the chocolate industry,” said Rebecca Forand, the county’s public information officer. “We do know that a large amount of propane is stored on the premises and used for the production process. However, the cause of the explosion is currently under investigation.”
According to officials, the explosion was massive. “The damage to the building in question was extensive,” said Andrew Halter, hazmat chief for the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management.
“There also is extensive damage to the adjacent building immediately to the right-hand side of that building.”
Hazmat officials have been monitoring a burn-off of remaining propane. Authorities said no hazard was detected in the air quality.
The blast reverberated to homes within a couple miles of the industrial complex. Oguzhan Kilic said he heard it as he was getting ready for work.
“I heard a loud noise then I actually felt my house shake, which caught me off guard,” he recalled, “so after I got dressed I walked out of my room. My dad and my sister were also outside of their rooms. We thought a car hit the house.”
Shane Harris said he and all his neighbors could feel it down the road. “They were all scared,” he said. “They didn’t know what happened either. They were confused, just like me.”
A shelter-in-place advisory was issued for a 2-mile radius, but was lifted around 5 p.m.