According to Parker County authorities, all construction workers have been accounted for following the 2 pm blast. A Parker County spokesperson says that three separate gas lines were ruptured when a backhoe struck them. At the time, workers were installing a new natural gas pipeline.
The three lines affected are a hydrocarbon line belonging to Magellan Energy, a propane line belonging to Conoco-Phillips and a Southwest Natural Gas pipeline. At the time of the explosion approximately a dozen workers were scattered around the construction worksite.
Nearby residents heard the explosion and called emergency response workers. The smoke could be seen as far away as the Aledo school district offices. Many nearby business shut down early, sending workers home.
The fire resulting from the explosion melted a high-voltage power line that runs parallel to the gas lines. Power was knocked out to approximately 5,000 residents and some businesses in the eastern part of Parker County.
The explosion could cause another round of concern among residents who are seeing an increasing number of gas wells in response to the discovery of natural gas reserves in the area.
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