Natural Gas Explosion Injures 14 at San Diego Hotel Construction Site

By Aaron Poehler

Published on May 20, 2008

The northern face of the fourth through seventh floors of the 30-story Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel were knocked out by the explosion, which occurred about 2 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Monday. Nine construction workers injured in the blast and one firefighter were transported to UCSD Medical Center, where five workers were admitted in critical condition. Three of those critically injured workers have been placed in medically induced comas to receive treatment for second and third degree burns covering up to 35 percent of their bodies. Four other workers were treated at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

While onlookers and first responders expressed initial concerns that the blast could have been the work of terrorists and arson and bomb squad investigators were summoned to the scene, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said that the explosion was caused by an accumulation of natural gas which was ignited by an as-yet undetermined source, most likely an electrical spark or boiler flame.

The 1,190-room hotel was previously scheduled to open in December. It is undetermined whether the opening will be delayed due to the damage.

The accident scene is currently under investigation.