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Still No Answer On Why Explosions Occurred, and Many Merrimack Valley Residents Are Still Without Natural Gas

October 4, 2018

Rumors are flying all over Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover about why dozens of damaging natural gas explosions occurred September 13, but residents still have no definitive answers.

Pressure in gas lines was 12 times more than it should have been, leading to the explosions, officials have said, but why it occurred a subject of intense conjecture, according to the Salem News.

Columbia Gas has announced it plans to restore natural gas service to residents by November 19 — which would be 67 days after the explosions occurred.

The explosions led to catastrophic fires in homes and other buildings. One man was killed, and more than 25 injured. Some 30,000 residents had to flee their homes.