NJ Building Explosion Victims Recovering In Trauma & Burn Centers, Officials Say

LOGAN TOWNSHIP, NJ — Victims of a Wednesday building explosion in Logan Township were brought to regional trauma and burn centers in critical condition, Gloucester County officials said in a joint press release.

At 2:36 p.m. on Wednesday, an industrial accident and explosion occurred at Savita Naturals, a commercial facility that processes cocoa butter for the chocolate industry on Heron Drive.

Following the explosion, four employees of the facility were brought to regional trauma and burn centers in critical condition, authorities said.

In a statement sent to Patch, Cooper University Health Care spokesperson Wendy Marano said victims of the explosion are no longer at Cooper University Medical Center, as they've either been released or transferred to another medical center.

According to Marano, one of the victims was treated and released from the Emergency Department on the same day, while two other victims brought to Cooper were stabilized in the hospital's trauma department and transferred to Temple Burn Center in Philadelphia the same day.

According to a report from NJ.com, a fourth victim was already being treated at Temple Health.

In a report from 6ABC, officials said company owner Richard Trout has been identified as one of the people who was injured in the incident.

Though Trout suffered severe burns and a broken arm, and is being treated in a medically induced coma at Temple's burn unit, his son, Kevin, told 6ABC that the family expects him to recover.

In addition to the four employees injured in the explosion, Gloucester County officials said one person in an adjacent building was also brought to a local hospital for an undisclosed medical emergency, and three additional patients brought themselves to local hospitals.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all of those involved in this tragic incident,” officials said.

Following the explosion at 2:36 p.m. on Wednesday, a shelter-in-place was issued for any residents or businesses within a two-mile radius of Heron Drive and High Hill Road, before being lifted at 4:45 p.m.

• Read More: Shelter-In-Place Order Lifted In NJ Town Following Building Explosion

According to Gloucester County officials, there have been several reports of property damage to buildings as far as one mile from the location.

While much of the 600 block of Heron Drive remains closed, employees of local businesses will be allowed access, officials said.

As of Thursday evening, officials said there is an ongoing controlled burn of the remaining fuels on site, which could take “several days” to complete.

Air quality monitoring is also continuing in the area, though so far, no hazardous materials have been detected. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

To see the press release from Gloucester County officials, you can click here.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with additional information from Cooper University Health Care.

Previous Coverage

• 'Critical' Injuries Following Building Explosion In NJ Town, Reports Say
• Shelter-In-Place Order Lifted In NJ Town Following Building Explosion