On the thirteenth of February, 1981, a series of sewer explosions destroyed street systems in Louisville, Kentucky. At 5:16 a.m., the explosions began, eventually destroying over 2 miles of streets, and 13 miles of railroad lines. It was even said that the initial explosion threw a passenger car into a explosion formed crater. A police helicopter also viewed explosions beginning at the railroad underpass on Hill Street. The explosions resulted in collapse of the concrete roads, and the formation of multiple craters, which reached up to thirty-eight feet deep. The shock caused many building evacuations, as well as house evacuations from the raw sewage that seeped up from the system.
It was eventually discovered that it was hexane, a chemical solvent, released from the Ralston-Purina soybean processing plant which, once ignited, caused the explosions which ripped apart the roads. Officials speculated that the cause of the ignition was a passing car that happened to light hexane fumes that came from the manholes.
~ Cici Mao
Sources:
http://www.mswmag.com/editorial/2008/03/the-big-bang
http://www.taproot.com/archives/42670
http://kynghistory.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/585599D9-070A-4F23-8410-92995B1A8177/0/LouisvilleSewerExplosion13Feb1981.pdf
http://www.historyorb.com/date/1981/february/13
It was eventually discovered that it was hexane, a chemical solvent, released from the Ralston-Purina soybean processing plant which, once ignited, caused the explosions which ripped apart the roads. Officials speculated that the cause of the ignition was a passing car that happened to light hexane fumes that came from the manholes.
~ Cici Mao
Sources:
http://www.mswmag.com/editorial/2008/03/the-big-bang
http://www.taproot.com/archives/42670
http://kynghistory.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/585599D9-070A-4F23-8410-92995B1A8177/0/LouisvilleSewerExplosion13Feb1981.pdf
http://www.historyorb.com/date/1981/february/13