The explosion caused by a Pacific Gas & Electic(PG&E) 54-year-old pipeline.
The wide swath of destruction turned Crestmoor Canyon into a moonscape with collapsed homes -- 37 destroyed and eight seriously damaged -- burned eucalyptus trees and a massive water-filled crater marking the site of the explosion -- 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep.
Among the dead were Jessica Morales, 20, Jacqueline Greig, 44, and her daughter, Janessa Greig, 13, all of San Bruno, according to the San Mateo County Coroner. Also feared dead is Elizabeth Torres, 81.
The California Public Utilities Commission which oversees natural gas pipelines already found in some audit that PG&E had not properly trained their technicians for proper using of gas-detection equipment.
"There's a history here that raises some pause and concern that this could be an ongoing characteristic of their maintenance," Assemblyman Jerry Hill
And this May, a consumer group disclosed internal PG&E documents that revealed shortcomings in the way the company inspected its gas-distribution lines from 2004 to 2007.
PG&E have more than 48,580 miles of natural gas pipelines. Installed close to earthquake fault lines and even pass under neighborhoods where residents may have no idea of the pipe lines existence.
Thursday's(Sept 10) explosion is believed to be the worst pipeline accident in PG&E history.
Posted 2010-09-10 and updated on Sep 30, 2010 10:27pm by fred merch