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CNN Live Today

Horrific Blast

Aired January 30, 2003 - 11:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: For a live update on this tragedy and what, if anything, more has been learned, let's go to Patty Davis in Kinston. And, Patty, while we wait for a press conference from the governor, the governor of North Carolina, let's go to you with the latest information.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, firefighters continuing to battle a smoldering fire here at West Pharmaceutical Plant in Kinston, North Carolina. You see behind me, the four-story structure where that explosion occurred yesterday, about 1:30. Emergency medical services director telling me, that indeed, plant workers were mixing their product. Their product is plastic for medical supplies, as you said, and that involves chemicals.

So when that explosion occurred, we not only had a huge plumes of smoke and fire, but toxic chemicals as well. A voluntary evacuation within a mile of this plant, residents were asked to evacuate.

Currently, we've got 17 patients still in area hospitals, the most seriously burned at a hospital in Chapel Hill. Now the job, now to find out exactly what happened and why it happened. As you said, investigators meeting at this hour with workers who were at the plant yesterday to find out what did they see, what do they know about what was going on before this explosion occurred.

I have been told by two officials here that terrorism is not suspected in this case. Now, this plant had been cited last fall for 30 safety violations by the state of North Carolina, but the state says, indeed, it was satisfied with the results. The plant had corrected those, and that the company's response was adequate, they're in good standing -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Patty Davis, thank you very much.

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Aired January 30, 2003 - 11:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: For a live update on this tragedy and what, if anything, more has been learned, let's go to Patty Davis in Kinston. And, Patty, while we wait for a press conference from the governor, the governor of North Carolina, let's go to you with the latest information.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, firefighters continuing to battle a smoldering fire here at West Pharmaceutical Plant in Kinston, North Carolina. You see behind me, the four-story structure where that explosion occurred yesterday, about 1:30. Emergency medical services director telling me, that indeed, plant workers were mixing their product. Their product is plastic for medical supplies, as you said, and that involves chemicals.

So when that explosion occurred, we not only had a huge plumes of smoke and fire, but toxic chemicals as well. A voluntary evacuation within a mile of this plant, residents were asked to evacuate.

Currently, we've got 17 patients still in area hospitals, the most seriously burned at a hospital in Chapel Hill. Now the job, now to find out exactly what happened and why it happened. As you said, investigators meeting at this hour with workers who were at the plant yesterday to find out what did they see, what do they know about what was going on before this explosion occurred.

I have been told by two officials here that terrorism is not suspected in this case. Now, this plant had been cited last fall for 30 safety violations by the state of North Carolina, but the state says, indeed, it was satisfied with the results. The plant had corrected those, and that the company's response was adequate, they're in good standing -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Patty Davis, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com