ADEM responded to the scene of a unleaded gas container explosion in White County and confirmed three fatalities.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management says the unleaded gas tank exploded at 194 Tank Farm Road just south of Searcy in White County.
The three people killed were hired to clean and make repairs to the tank when something ignited and caused the explosion. The workers were from
C&C Welding in Kentucky.
The tank belonged to
TEPPCO out of Houston.
People describe the explosion as loud and forceful.
"It just shook the whole building,” says Billy Gray.
He took off from work when he heard the blast.
"I was just worried about my family and home,” he said.
That’s because he lives just 300 yards away from the TEPPCO facility.
After making sure his family was okay, he immediately started snapping photos.
The pictures tell the story, just moments after something caused one tank to explode -- rushing emergency crews to the scene.
"I live right over there. I came out and looked and you could see reddish brown smoke pouring,” said Howard Moore.
So he called 911.
"I could see people running around everywhere,” he explained
Three contractors never made it out.
"It's a sad day. Hopefully nothing else will happen like this,” Gray said.
