A boiler explosion at a hospital near Waco, Texas, on June 26 killed two men and injured 14 others. The cause of the explosion at Coryell Memorial Hospital in Gatesville is under investigation.
The explosion occurred in a building under construction at the rear of the hospital's campus. The deceased men were working for a subcontractor, and the explosion is being investigated as a construction accident, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.
Natural gas is confirmed as part of the cause of the explosion, according to the Killeen Daily Herald, but the full cause of the incident has not been determined. The Railroad Commission of Texas is investigating to see if pipeline safety rule violations were involved.
On July 2, the hospital was released for occupancy after a structural review, according to KWTX 10. The facility returned to full operations on July 10, according to the Killeen Daily Herald.
In 2016, the hospital started a 117,000-square-foot expansion project, including operating rooms, a 25-bed wing, administration offices, a 16-bed rehabilitation facility, and a central plant.
This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, senior editor, Building Operating Management.
