Newburyport Explosions Were Result of Chemical Reaction

NEWBURYPORT, MA — A chemical reaction caused the explosions at a North Shore chemical processing facility early Thursday morning, state and local officials said Friday.

The explosions blew a hole through the rood of PCI Synthesis in Newburyport. They were caused by a sampling procedure from a large vat, according to State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Newburyport Deputy Fire Chief Steven Bradbury.

Firefighters responded to the building shortly before 4:30 a.m. when the sprinkler system went off. The plant runs 24 hours a day.