DURHAM N.C. – Clean up in Durham is still continuing six months after a devastating explosion.
- On April 10, 2019, a contractor cut a gas line while working on the sidewalk which caused a gas leak.
- The Studebaker Building on Duke Street exploded and two people died.
- Business owners in the area are still working to rebuild their lives.
- RELATED: Durham Continues to Recover After Massive Gas Explosion
On April 10, 2019, a gas line was cut by a contractor who was working on the sidewalk. This caused a gas leak. Somehow, the fumes were ignited and The Studebaker Building, as well as the Kaffeinate Coffee Shop, were leveled.
Kong Lee, owner of the Kaffeinate Coffee Shop, was killed by the blast after staying behind to make sure no one else was in danger.
Utility worker Ray Rambeaut was also killed by the blast trying to contain the leak. He was in a coma at the hospital and died of his injuries several days later.
Officials are still investigating what caused the ignition. The city determined it could not figure out what caused it, but the State Department of Labor wants to know if any companies violated regulations.
Several business owners are preparing to reopen their businesses in the coming months.
The owner of Saint James Seafood is hoping to reopen in January and the owner of Torero’s Mexican Restaurant is looking towards opening in December.
Torero’s Restaurant is situated two doors down from what used to be the Kaffeinate Coffee Shop. Co-owner, Jose Arias, was serving customers when the blast went off.
“It broke open those windows. See, I don't know what happened. See, I was running outside. The explosion blow out those windows," Arias said.
The city shut down his business after the blast. His insurance also paid almost $90,000 in clean up.
Nat Jirasawad runs an ice cream shop close by. He says it took weeks for customers to return to his store.
“Here it's not dangerous anymore. The people should come out and do...and shop with the people in the Bright Leaf area,” he said.
The community is still feeling the repercussions of the explosion half a year later, but they are hopeful they will pick everything back up.
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