NC, One killed, three injured in Morganton plant explosion

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MORGANTON (AP) -- One person was killed and three others were injured in an explosion Monday at a graphite electrode plant, authorities said.

Gary Ollis, 49, of Dysartville, died from the explosion at the Sigri Great Lakes Carbon Corp. plant in Morganton, said Hugh Hubble, a nursing supervisor at Grace Hospital, where the blast victims were taken.

The three people injured were treated for minor injuries -- including a flash burn and smoke inhalation -- and released, Hubble said.

Police were called to the plant shortly before 6 p.m., said police dispatcher Sherry Smith .

The State Bureau of Investigation and Morganton police officers were investigating the explosion Monday evening. Officials are investigating whether the explosion originated in a furnace, said Morganton police Capt. Alex Cobb.

The roof and walls of the room where the explosion occurred were heavily damaged, Cobb said.

The plant, which employs about 600 workers, makes electrodes used by steel makers to melt scrap metal.

SGL Carbon is based in Wiesbaden, Germany, with its North American headquarters in Charlotte.

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/foto/news/content/2000/tx00jun/n06plant.htm

Related Story: http://www.morganton.com/pages/news.htm

-- Doris (reaper1@mindspring.com), June 06, 2000


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