SWEDESBORO, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Three of the four people hurt in the massive South Jersey factory explosion earlier this week remain in critical condition, as investigators continue searching for the cause of the blast.
The Wednesday afternoon explosion happened at Savita Naturals, a cocoa butter extraction factory in Logan Township, Gloucester County. One victim has been upgraded to stable condition, but the other three remain critical at the hospital with significant burns and injuries.
The investigation is just beginning to get underway, as the scene is still unsafe to enter. Officials said they have burned off the remaining propane that was flowing into the air. Meanwhile, four large propane tanks are full, and they need to be either moved or emptied before fire investigators can get inside the wreckage safely.
Officials, however, assured that the full tanks are secure, so there is no immediate threat to the community. No hazard was detected in the air quality either.
Logan Township Fire Chief Scott Oatman said the building was designed with a blowout wall to deal with an explosion, which may have helped mitigate some of the damage.
“These are built to handle an explosion, and the building kind of did what it was supposed to do. I believe those gentlemen that were in that building were very lucky,” he said.
Oatman added that the building was up to date on codes and permits.
The blast reverberated to homes within a couple of miles of the industrial complex. Two neighboring buildings have been deemed uninhabitable until further notice. Several other businesses in the area reported some damage as well.
Officials said the explosion appears to have been accidental and not a criminal event. The cause of the blast is still under investigation.