Workers hurt in explosion at construction site

Workers hurt in explosion at construction site

Firefighters responded to this high-rise condo building Thursday afternoon after a construction accident.

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By Margy Lynch and KATU Web Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. – An explosion Thursday at a condo construction project in northwest Portland critically injured a worker, fire officials said.

The dangerous chain of events started when a worker drilling into concrete near the intersection of Northwest 9th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street accidentally hit an underground power line shortly before 3 p.m.

The resulting explosion shot power down through a basement and into a room, blowing off a panel there. A worker who was down there was overcome with smoke and taken to a hospital for treatment.

The worker with the drill was badly burned. That worker, whose name was not released, was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with critical injuries, said Lt. Allen Oswalt, a spokesman for the Portland Fire Bureau

A handful of workers who ran down to check on their colleagues were also overcome with smoke and treated for smoke inhalation, he said.

All involved were expected to survive.

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