Muskogee residents deal with damage from Tuesday night's explosion

Muskogee residents saw and felt the explosion that destroyed a scrap metals plant Tuesday evening. That blast was felt for miles. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says many nearby residents

Wednesday, December 29th 2004, 9:34 am

By: News On 6

Muskogee residents saw and felt the explosion that destroyed a scrap metals plant Tuesday evening. That blast was felt for miles.

News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says many nearby residents were forced out of their homes following the blast and the fires that followed.

Emergency crews rushed to the Yaffe Iron and Metals plant in the southeast part of Muskogee shortly after the blast. Police cordoned off an 8-block radius and began evacuating the neighborhood, fearing another blast.

Four people were working inside the shop when the explosion happened, destroying a tower and sending flaming debris flying through the air. Nearby homes and businesses in Muskogee were damaged from the blast.

More than a dozen residents were injured, ranging from shrapnel wounds to chest pains. Those evacuated were sent to a temporary shelter at the Civic Center in downtown Muskogee.

Area volunteers gathered to take a head count of those left homeless and connect frightened loved ones with any relatives unaccounted for.