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Firefighters respond to a crash on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia after a tanker truck caught fire.
CNN
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A portion of northbound I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed after a tanker truck caught fire under the freeway, Philadelphia officials said Sunday morning.
“We had a 95 slope on the northbound side, and the south side was compromised by heavy fire,” Philadelphia Fire Department Battalion Chief Derek Pomer said during a news conference Sunday morning. “Looks like we have a lot of heat and heavy fire under the underpass.”
Firefighters are still battling the blaze, Pomer said.
Boomer said the explosions around the highway collapse were “caused by the flow of some fuel or gas line that could have been compromised by the accident.”
“Fire is coming out of those manholes,” Bomer said.
Photos and videos from the scene show huge plumes of smoke billowing from the interstate.
The mayor’s office told CNN the cause of the fire was a large tanker truck. The highway is closed in both directions around the area and the fire is under control, said Sara Peterson, the office’s director of communications.
Dominic Mireles, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management, said officials will spend a long time dealing with the collapse and the fire.
“Today is going to be a long day. And since 95 is northbound, southbound is out of the question, so it’s going to be longer than that,” Mireles said. “The road is gone.”
Tumar Alexander, executive director of the city of Philadelphia, said the incident “will have a significant impact on this community for some time.”
“95 will be affected for a long time,” Alexander said during a news conference.
The fire remains under investigation by the marshal and other partners, Bomer added during the news conference.
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management asked travelers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. In a Sunday morning tweet.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has commented on the decline. according to a Twitter thread on Sunday.
“I was briefed by @PEMAHQ, @PennDOTNews and @PAStatePolice on the I-95 fire and collapse in Philadelphia. State Police and PEMA are assisting local first responders and @PennDOTSec and his crew are en route to assess the situation and address traffic needs,” the governor wrote in his post. said on a verified Twitter account.
“@LTGDavis and I are coordinating closely with partners in Philadelphia, New Jersey and the federal government to share the information we have. For now, please skip that area and follow the direction of first responders.
Officials did not report any injuries.
