Abstract: Employees #1 through #6, of Brooklyn Union Gas, and coworkers were at the site of a water main break. A backhoe was being used to access the pipe when water undermined the area around it and the ground collapsed. The backhoe fell approximately 12. 5 in. into the approximately 5 ft deep excavation. At about this time, the workers detected a gas leak. They continued to work in the excavation when, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the gas ignited and resulted in an explosion. Employees #1 through #6 sustained burns and were transported to Coney Island Hospital and to the Cornell Burn Center in Manhattan. Also injured were four employees of the excavating contractor, one employee of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and one civilian.