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Shepparton North explosion: Six people injured, two flown to Melbourne
Six people were injured in a gas explosion at a recycling plant in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning, with two flown to a Melbourne hospital.
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Emergency services responded to the incident on the Goulburn Valley Hwy at about 8am on May 2, with residents in the area reporting a loud bang, which was heard up to a kilometre or so from the site of the blast.
The incident happened at Rose & Co recycling plant.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said six people were taken to hospital with upper body injuries.
A man believed to be in his 40s was airlifted to Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital where at 12.30pm the same day he remained in a critical but stable condition, while a man believed to be in his 60s was airlifted to the same hospital and was in a stable condition at lunchtime on Tuesday.
Four others — two men and two women — were taken by road to Goulburn Valley Health in a stable condition.
A Goulburn Valley Health spokesperson said two of them were discharged from hospital early Tuesday afternoon, with the other two remaining for further treatment and observation.
Shepparton police local area commander Inspector Bruce Simpson said there was no further risk to the public from the incident and none of the nearby businesses needed to be evacuated.
He said Fire Rescue Victoria investigators would work with WorkSafe to determine the cause of the incident.
A spokesperson for WorkSafe said it was investigating the incident.
Shepparton Fire Rescue Victoria senior station officer Paul McKendrick said when firefighters arrived on the scene there were no flames or risk of fire.
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The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 10 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 11 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 12 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 13 of 17
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The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 16 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 17 of 17
The scene of a gas explosion at Rose & Co in Shepparton North on Tuesday morning. Photo by Rechelle ZammitHe said firefighters made the scene safe and assisted paramedics.
Mr McKendrick said it appeared to be a work-related incident.
“They were shredding small aerosol cans as part of their work, I guess there was a build-up of gas somewhere and it’s just gone bang,” he said.
As of 9.30am, workers were still standing around outside the factory.
Traffic wasn’t blocked on the Goulburn Valley Hwy during the incident.
One air ambulance and several road ambulances were on the scene, as well as Fire Rescue Victoria tankers and more than half a dozen police cars.