Preliminary analysis points to a combustible fuel or other compound inside the container bound for Taiwan.
The Port of Los Angeles said Thursday that preliminary analysis points to a combustible fuel or other compound that caused an explosion inside a sealed export-bound shipping container Tuesday.
The port said the investigation continues and is being conducted by the
Los Angeles Harbor Department and Los Angeles Port Police. Analysis is being done by the Los Angeles Port Police Hazardous Materials Unit, Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad and U.S. Coast Guard.
The Los Angeles Port Police received a call regarding a container explosion at the Evergreen Terminal under the Vincent Thomas Bridge at 5:58 p.m. Tuesday. The terminal was evacuated. All other terminals at the Port of Los Angeles remained open.
No injuries or other property damage were reported, according to ABC7.com, which said about 100 port employees were part of the evacuation and that some roads in the area also were closed.
A 40-foot container, along with 11 other containers, reportedly were delivered to the port earlier in the day from a recycling facility on Terminal Island. The containers were slated for delivery to Taiwan, the port said.
The port said the involved container was not marked as containing hazardous materials and the manifest indicated clean scrap iron or heavy melting scrap only. The remaining 11 containers were located, inspected and determined to be compliant.
Procedures at the recycling facility will be reviewed by the Los Angeles Port Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard will review the facility security plan, for which it has jurisdiction, the port said.
The port said the investigation continues and is being conducted by the
Los Angeles Harbor Department and Los Angeles Port Police. Analysis is being done by the Los Angeles Port Police Hazardous Materials Unit, Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad and U.S. Coast Guard.
The Los Angeles Port Police received a call regarding a container explosion at the Evergreen Terminal under the Vincent Thomas Bridge at 5:58 p.m. Tuesday. The terminal was evacuated. All other terminals at the Port of Los Angeles remained open.
No injuries or other property damage were reported, according to ABC7.com, which said about 100 port employees were part of the evacuation and that some roads in the area also were closed.
A 40-foot container, along with 11 other containers, reportedly were delivered to the port earlier in the day from a recycling facility on Terminal Island. The containers were slated for delivery to Taiwan, the port said.
The port said the involved container was not marked as containing hazardous materials and the manifest indicated clean scrap iron or heavy melting scrap only. The remaining 11 containers were located, inspected and determined to be compliant.
Procedures at the recycling facility will be reviewed by the Los Angeles Port Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard will review the facility security plan, for which it has jurisdiction, the port said.
