The clean up from the chemical explosion in Indio continues.
It happened Thursday morning on Cabazon Road, near Dillon.
The District Attorney's office is also here trying to figure out who this container belonged to.
This cylinder, badly damaged, still pinched by the crane. It is eight feet long, filled with concentrated chlorine. As we saw Thursday it can be extremely harmful.
A crane, sorting through a pile of rubble at U.S. Metals punctured a one ton cylinder filled with concentrated chlorine Thursday, causing a chemical leak that sent five workers to the hospital. Two in critical condition, suffering from chemical burns and respiratory injuries. Friday, fire officials say the container is stable, but still poses a threat.
"We still know there's chlorine release of chlorine. Crews don't have the equipment or resources necessary to safely remove the container," said Riverside County Fire Department Captain Rick Griggs.
The one ton cylinder is situated on top of a pile of rubble and is still attached to the crane that caused the puncture. They're waiting for chlorine experts to arrive from out of state.
Right now, fire officials say the hole on the container has sealed itself, but chlorine gas is still seeping out.
They're keeping an eye on it to make sure conditions don't change. Meanwhile they're investigating serial numbers on the container.
"Both hazmat and the District Attorney are investigating to determine ownership. Five businesses in the area remain evacuated. The road is still closed," said Griggs.
A customer, was turned away at the road block.
" It looks pretty bad. We thought there was a death here or something," said Don Machado.
Original Story Below:CalFire has confirmed to KPSP Local 2 that a crane punctured a large metal cylinder at an Indio recycling center, causing a chemical leak.
Firefighters say the leak forced Chlorine chemicals into the air. Five businesses were evacuated.
KPSP Local 2 viewers have called in and said the explosion happened at U.S. Metal, a recycling center at the corner of Dillon Road and Cabazon Road in Indio. Firefighters say both the recycling center and a nearby business named Praxair were evacuated.
