4 hospitalized after Waukegan chemical plant explosion
Frank Abderholden 5 hrs ago
Witnesses capture 'ground shaking' explosion in Illinois
Video by NBC News
Four people were transported to area hospitals after an explosion at the AB Speciality Silicone plant in Waukegan late Friday night.
Steve Lenzi, spokesman for the Waukegan Fire Department, said officials were working with a plant manager to determine how many people were working in the Sunset Avenue factory when the explosion happened.
Speaking around midnight, Lenzi added officials did not know what caused the explosion.
"We have fire and structural damage indicative of an explosion," Lenzi said at the scene. "There is very heavy damage.”
Two people were taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan and two were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Lenzi added.
Mayor Sam Cunnigham appeared near the scene at Green Bay Road and Sunset Avenue and said to reporters that he wanted to thank all the first responders working on "this unfortunate situation."
"I ask everyone out there to say prayers for the families of those that were hurt," he said.
The explosion was heard and felt across Lake County around 9:45 p.m and was responded to by the Waukegan Fire Department.
Poster Comment:
When I was in High School in Chicago, some kid threw Sodium metal in the urinal in the boys room and blew it up. He must have used rubber gloves to get it out of the chemistry lab since the moisture on your skin will cause a burn. He was expelled from school for that stunt.