Oil Refinery Explodes in Washington State

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A Massive explosion at oil refinery kills at least 5 people

The blast struck the Tesoro Corp. oil refinery in Anacortes, about 110 kilometers  north of Seattle on Puget Sound, early Saturday morning.

A Tesoro Corp. refinery, including a gas flare flame that is part of the plant operations, is shown Friday, April 2, 2010, in Anacortes, Wash. An overnight fire and explosion at the refinery killed at least three people working at the plant. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren). Image may be subject to copyright.

Three male employees died at the scene and two female workers lost their lives later at a Seattle hospital. Two other employees with first degree burns were hospitalized at the Harvard View Medical Center near Seattle, WA.

“It was the largest fatal refinery accident since a 2005 explosion at a BP American refinery in Texas killed 15 people and injured another 170.” AP reported.

The company says the explosion occurred while maintenance work was being carried out and was extinguished in less than 2 hours.

The refinery was recently charged with safety violations and fined by the authorities “amid what federal watchdogs call a troubling trend of serious accidents at refineries.”

The blast reportedly shook homes and woke people as far away as 20 km.

“We could tell this was horrific, this was huge,” said Jan Taylor of La Conner, Wash., who felt the blast rock her motorhome at the RV park across the bay.

Map of Tesoro Corp Installations in the U.S. with the approximate location of Anacortes refinery encircled. Sourec Tesoro website. Image may be subject to copyright.

Anacortes refinery was acquired by Tesoro 12 years ago. It processes crude from Alaska North Slope and produces a total of about 120,000 barrels. “The refinery primarily supplies gasoline, jet fuel and diesel to markets in Washington and Oregon, and manufactures heavy fuel oils, liquefied petroleum gas and asphalt. It receives crude feedstock via pipeline from Canada and by tanker from Alaska and foreign sources.” Company website said.

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