One dead, six injured in New Zealand tunnel explosion

One dead, six injured in New Zealand tunnel explosion

2011-06-04 09:09:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (BNO NEWS) -- One man died and six were injured in an underground explosion in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga, New Zealand police confirmed on Saturday.

According to a police statement, the explosion took place at approximately 8 a.m. when workers were connecting a new water main in a residential area. One person was confirmed dead, while six people were transported to Auckland Hospital with a variety of injuries, some critical.

The cause of the explosion has not been specified, according to the statement.

Fire Service assistant area commander Wayne Highet told the New Zealand Herald that gas must have been ignited to have created such a large blast.

Auckland fire acting area commander Steve Lakin said seven specialist appliances were sent to the area to make sure it was safe and the gas was reduced inside the tunnel so they could go back inside for another inspection.

"After we made the scene safe and realizing it had been a fatal accident, the Fire Service, along with the other emergency services, made an effort to enter the tunnel to determine the state of play," he said, as cited by the New Zealand Herald.

"We entered the tunnel with gas detection equipment and found that there were explosive limits of gases inside the tunnel. At this stage we are unaware of what those gases are likely to be, other than the explosive limits are beyond our normal safe procedures."

Streets around the site remain cordoned off.

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