Explosion at Hilton in downtown San Diego

Five people were critically injured this afternoon in an explosion at a high-rise Hilton Hotel under construction on the San Diego waterfront. Eight others needed treatment, the San Diego Fire Department said. Officials were not yet certain of the cause but said it may have been a gas leak.

The incident occurred about 2:15 on Harbor Drive next to the convention center and near the Petco Park baseball stadium.



Video: Scene of the blastFour floors of the hotel were damaged at one corner, with some windows and metal railings destroyed.

Dozens of police and fire vehicles and ambulances raced to the scene. Police said the explosion may have taken place in a room with mechanical equipment such as heating and air-conditioning units.

The injured were believed to be construction workers.
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FOR THE RECORD:
An earlier version of this story said eighteen people had been injured.

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Barbara and Frank Glenski were waiting outside Petco Park for the San Diego Padres game to begin when the explosion occurred. A large ball of white smoke enveloped the building, they said. Frank Glenski said it reminded him of a Navy ship firing its five-inch gun. "It really shook," he said.

The explosion was felt several blocks away, witnesses said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hotel20-2008may20,0,5541703.story

check out the link for the pics

I hope they recover....

It's sad that people were injured, but thank goodness the hotel was not finished. I can't imagine how bad the injuries would be then.

There are three in critical condition as of this morning, and they have been put into medical induced comas, because over 35% of their bodies are burned.

It's really sad.


Was sitting here, in the office, yesterday, when the explosion happened. Heard it, but didn't know WHAT it was. When I saw the news, I was like... "Well, now I know what that boom was, and all the following noises."

Very sad. Is there any word on what the cause was yet?