Explosion of Oil Tanks in West Virginia Sends 4 to Hospital

Four people have been hospitalized after oil tanks exploded in West Virginia.

News outlets report a company was removing three oil tanks in West Union on Friday when the tanks exploded.

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Jake Glance said workers were dismantling the tanks with some type of torch. But the tanks were not entirely empty and caught fire.

A report from the Department of Environmental Protection says the tanks’ contents spilled into a nearby stream. Officials said they did not know how much was spilled.

The work was done in a residential area. But officials say only the workers were injured.