SISSONVILLE PIPELINE UPDATE NTSB Says Pipeline That Exploded Was Thinner Than Designed
Reported by: Deborah Linz
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Dec. 14, 2012 8:39 AM EST
Updated: Dec. 14, 2012 8:47 AM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
National Transportation Safety Board officials said the bottom of the natural gas pipeline that exploded Tuesday in Sissonville was thinner than it was designed and over a 6-foot area was less than a tenth of an inch thick.
During a news conference Thursday, NTSB officials also said the pressure dropped at exactly 12:41 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, the same time the first 911 call was made to Metro 911. At this point, they are not sure if the pressure drop caused the explosion or was the result of the explosion.
At least four homes were destroyed, and several other residences were damaged. But amazingly, no one was serious injured or killed.
The owner of the pipeline, Columbia Gas Transmission, released a statement that said, "We continue to work with our affected neighbors to accommodate their needs and provide them with any assistance that they may need. We have teams of employees on the ground around Sissonville assisting residents for as long as needed."
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Deborah Linz
