Jackson Gas Explosions Blamed on Shifting Soil

0:00It's March 26th. Welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. Two natural gas explosions, Rock Jackson, Mississippi, and late January 2024, wiping out two homes due to underground pipes pulling free. From there, fittings. A federal report released this week pins the blame on the areas shifting clay soil, which swells with rain and shrinks and dry spells, causing dangerous gas leaks. The incidents happen just three days and about three quarters of a mile apart in South Jackson. The first blast on January 24th killed an 82-year-old woman and lightly heard her husband while the second on January 27th. Leveled another house and damaged to neighbors, but caused no injuries there. This Yazoo clay under much of Jackson is notorious for cracking foundations and heaving roads, and it disconnected old couplings installed by A. Previous owner of the gas company, the report slams Atmos Energy for safety gaps across

1:00its operations in eight states, including inconsistent lead checks that varied by location. Earlier leaks at both homes, one spotted in mid-November 2023 and the other in early December were downplayed as low risk with repairs, delayed up to three years. After the blast, Atmos recheck leaks in the area and found some worse than first thought. Investigators say tougher rules from one of their states, like Kansas, could have stopped the disasters if applied everywhere and they urged replacing. All vulnerable pipe fittings. Atmos insists safety is their top focus in plans to review the findings closely to improve. With calls for wider oversight, the company faces pressure to standardize practices and prevent future tragedies in shaky soil zones.