Worn-Out Bolts to Blame for Mexico City Maternity Hospital Gas Explosion The Associated Press
go to original February 17, 2015

Investigators say faulty gas hose bolts are to blame for deadly blast at maternity hospital last month. Julie Noce reports. (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials said Monday that two worn-out bolts on a gas tanker truck broke, causing a leak that resulted in a hospital explosion that killed five people last month.

The results of the investigation again highlighted the unsafe conditions that many propane tankers operate under.

The failure "was caused by (metal) fatigue on the bolts due to a lack of proper maintenance," said Mexico City chief prosecutor Rodolfo Rios.

When the two bolts on a pipe flange connected to the truck's pump cracked, a gasket partially blew out, allowing gas to accumulate on the hospital grounds for about 25 minutes.

The leak later ignited. The subsequent explosion and fire collapsed most of the maternity hospital on Jan. 29.

Read the rest at The San Diego Union-Tribune

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