Joseph Wilkinson
New York Daily News
(TNS)
A significant section of Interstate 95 through Philadelphia collapsed in a heap of rubble early Sunday morning because of a blazing tanker truck fire underneath the highway.
The fire was reported around 6:30 a.m. on a surface street under an overpass, and smoke eaters arrived to a raging blaze, said Capt. Derek Bowmer of the Philadelphia fire department.
Early reports said a tanker truck caught fire under the highway, but officials did not confirm the ignition vehicle.
The intense flames collapsed the northbound side of the highway, sending the road crashing to the ground and rendering the southbound side unstable.
“Today’s going to be a long day, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management. “And obviously, with 95 northbound gone and southbound questionable, it’s going to be even longer than that.”
The highway was closed for miles in both directions and emergency responders steered traffic away from the collapse. Several surface streets were also closed.
No injuries were initially reported, but authorities had not found the driver of the vehicle that went up in flames by Sunday afternoon.
Underground explosions were also heard throughout the area on Sunday morning. Bowmer said they could’ve been caused by runoff from the fire or compromised gas lines. He also noted the explosion could affect the Delaware River, which runs about 1,500 feet from the collapse.
“Closely monitoring the fire and collapse on I-95 in Pennsylvania,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted. “I’ve been in touch with FHWA and spoke with Gov. Shapiro to offer any assistance that USDOT can provide to help with recovery and reconstruction.”
Sunday morning’s debacle was the second time a roadway collapsed in Pennsylvania in two years. In January 2022, a four-lane bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before President Biden visited.
With News Wire Services
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