They were working at the Blue Rhino¹ propane（丙烷） plant, in the town of Tavares, when the blasts began at about 23:00, blowing the roof off.

 

The explosions continued for about an hour and caused a large fire. The cause of the initial blast is not yet known. 

 

Fifteen workers were found safe after initially² being unaccounted for, while two others managed to escape unhurt.

 

A spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, John Harrell, said the missing workers had merely "scattered³" when the explosions began and had since been contacted by their managers and emergency crews.

 

People living within 0.5 miles (0.8km) of the plant have been evacuated⁴, although Mr Harrell said emergency crews believed the fire had been contained and that there was no immediate⁵ danger to them.

 

Officials are investigating the blasts. There were an estimated 53,000 tanks at the plant at the time.

 

Former plant supervisor⁶ Don Ingram told WESH-TV that Blue Rhino took in propane tanks used for home barbecues, cleaned them, checked their valves and then refilled them.

 

About 4,000 to 5,000 tanks were refilled each night and were stacked on plastic pallets（塑料托盘） four or five high behind the filling station, Mr Ingram added

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