On Thursday, December 30, morning, an explosion rocked the CSX Curtis Bay Coal Terminal in Baltimore.
The cause of the incident, which occurred at 11:30 a.m. local time, is being investigated, according to CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) spokesperson Cindy Schild. She stated that all employees had been accounted for and that no injuries had occurred as a result of the incident.
The explosion could be felt from several miles away, according to local media reports and tweets from nearby residents.
Local fire and police departments responded to the explosion and are collaborating with CSX to determine what caused it. According to Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, the Baltimore City Fire Department has confirmed that no gases have been detected from the site, and the fire department is seeking an on-site air quality test from the Maryland Department of the Environment.
According to CSX’s website, the company has recently invested more than $60 million in its Baltimore coal-handling complex. The terminal has a 14 million ton annual throughput capacity. It primarily handles Northern Appalachian coal, but also coal from Central and Southern Appalachia, the Illinois Basin, and the Powder River Basin.
