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Laney, Cass Officials Safe Following Explosion

Guests are safe and accounted for following an explosion Tuesday night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

 

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Guests are safe and accounted for following an explosion Tuesday night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.


Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney and about 30 staff members were staying at the resort when the explosion occurred just after 8 p.m. Tuesday. Laney had been recognized Sunday night as national Sheriff of the Year.


It's not known what caused the blast, but the explosion was strong enough that it destroyed an escalator. An area about the size of a football field was affected.


The Cass County group was nearby finishing supper when the blast occurred. Laney tells KFGO News the scene was chaotic as thousands were evacuated:


"The first thing that went through my mind is where's my people," said Laney. "We immediately kind of went into our mode, for lack of better terms, and started an accountability factor, got a hold of the Chief Deputy. We made a rally point, picked a location where they had a back-up hotel at the main event about a half-mile away. We didn't know if it was mechanical or if it was intentional."

The explosion may have been caused by a natural gas leak in a mechanical room. Laney says that was just a short distance from where his group had been gathered several hours earlier.


About 5,000 guests had been evacuated.


No serious injuries were reported.

(KFGO file photo)

 

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