UPDATE: 4 Dead, 1 Injured in Tragic Fireworks Explosion

Pierce Egerton

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The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that two more workers have died from injuries sustained when a truck loaded with fireworks exploded on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The workers were apparently employed by Melrose South Pyrotechnics of Catawba, S.C. Melrose was going to provide the island’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

WAVY video.

One worker died at the scene. Of the other four injured workers, two were apparently airlifted to the Jaycee Burn Unit at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and two were airlifted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C.

One of the workers taken to the burn center and one of the workers taken to Pitt Memorial subsequently died according to reports.

Several government agencies are investigating the explosion including the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the SBI. Ferry service to the island was closed to the public for several hours.

UPDATE 7/5/09: Sadly the death toll in yesterday's explosion rose to 4 this morning.