Tanker Explosion in Everett

Early this morning, a gas-tank truck driver took a turn too fast in Everett, and his truck tipped over at the Route 16/Route 99 rotary, prompting an explosion and fire. 200 people were evacuated, 40 cars were destroyed, and at least 3 homes caught fire. No one has been reported hurt so far.

That's the key phrase--"so far." The latest TV news reports indicate it is still a mess. WBZ has raw footage of the fire. It's a miracle that it wasn't worse.

WCVB interviewed several people who described the horrible sound effects as a result of the blast. Many of them mentioned a "popping" sound. One man said, "I'd say there was at least 15 cars that were really burning. And popping, they were popping. I don't know if it was tires that were blowing, but they were completely gone, the cars."

A nursing home was evacuated as well. All evacuees went to an armory, where the Red Cross is helping. WHDH has an interview with a rep for the Red Cross, who states that they're just trying to provide basic comfort to the evacuees.

Regarding traffic, the basic message is that you need to avoid the area if at all possible.