Heard on the radio that a building exploded in your area Leslie.

Tom - Yes. It is rather horrible. It was the old Studebaker building and housed 2 businesses. A contractor (those da*! idiots who are laying the fiber cables - same ones that killed my oak tree and broke my neighbors water line) was digging under a gas line and caused a leak. They called the fire department for "a strong smell of gas". The fire department and police department were just starting evacuations on the block when the building exploded. I person died, at least 17 are injured. 6 in critical condition (included one of the firefighters), one at the UNC burn center. It also blew out all the windows on the block, causing injuries to those in other buildings. The fires after the explosion destroyed much of the two buildings on either side of the one that blew up. One of those building stored a collection of historic Porsches, many of which are now destroyed. Search and rescue is on the scene now, and it will take a couple days before they get through all the rubble. They believe every person from the businesses is accounted for but they aren't 100% sure yet. And today is Durham's 150th birthday. Not the present the town was looking forward to!

So sad, Leslie. Prayers and hugs to everyone affected.

Thanks Mika. Prayers will be needed.

cliftoncat said:So sad, Leslie. Prayers and hugs to everyone affected.

Mika said it best.

cliftoncat said:So sad, Leslie. Prayers and hugs to everyone affected.

Praying for all of Durham.



First iris bloom of the season! It's just a NOID but I'm glad to see it.

We had the same thing happen here last year in a city North of me about an hours drive. Dumb guys hit a gas line while digging, blew up a building, and there were many fatalities. Hope the injured survive, and that no other deaths occur.

for everyone affected by the gas explosion.

ugh--such tragic stories

Leslie, what a terrible tragedy! I hope no more victims are found.

Casey, that photo of Frankenberry with the catmint in the background is drop dead gorgeous!!

I see it on TV right now, and it looks awful.

The explosion in Durham is just heart-breaking.

Congrats Will on your first 2019 bloom! How exciting!

Looks like Midnight Sharp won the race! (With Spanish Bluebells in the background.)



Maybe Olive Windows will open today too? Just love the multi-colored buds.

Can't wait to see your Olive Windows! Mine doesn't even have a stalk yet.

Sorry I didn't post pics last night. Got all caught up in the post-explosion news which was depressing. The person who died was the owner of the coffee shop who had just been notified to evacuate. The injured firefighter was one of those going around notifying people to evacuate. I am guessing he had just left the coffee shop.

The blast really threw items a long way from the blast site. Bricks flew into the next block, and glass and window parts landed on top of a parking deck over a block away. The blast and the cloud of smoke were thick enough that meteorologists could track it on radar. Let me tell you, it has me thinking about the gas line into my house.

Leslie ~ What a horrible situation! I can only imagine what it is like to have it so close by to where you live.

On the other hand, I hope that Olive Windows shows you some love!

So sorry, Leslie, for this terrible accident.

Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts and prayers. Hopefully those optic fiber contractors will get reprimanded for their bungling.

Think more than a reprimand might be indicated in this case.

I so agree!

lovemyhouse said:Think more than a reprimand might be indicated in this case.