Andover Fire Rescue sent members of its Tech Rescue Team to Newburyport Thursday morning to assist in the response to an overnight factory explosion, where one person remained missing and four others were injured, according to the union that represents the Town’s firefighters.
The explosion happened around 12:45 a.m. at a factory on Opportunity Way in Newburyport. The blast was powerful enough to blow an industrial size vat and other equipment through the roof and into the parking lot.
See photos of the response to the explosion on 617 Images.
Damage to the building from the seven-alarm fire was slowing the search for the missing worker, who had still not been located as of 11:55 a.m. Thursday. The four injured workers were taken to a hospital and released after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The building houses PCI Synthesis, which makes chemicals for pharmaceutical companies. Newburyport police said there was no risk to neighbors.