Carnival Triumph evacuated after nearby explosions

Carnival Triumph evacuated after nearby explosions

Carnival Triumph evacuated after nearby explosionsExplosions in a US port have promoted Carnival Triumph, which was undergoing repairs nearby, to be evacuated.

Work on the 2,758-passenger ship has been on-going since an engine fire in February left it without power and drifting in the Gulf of Mexico.

Multiple explosions were reported in the port in Mobile, Alabama, caused when two fuel barges were said to have slipped their moorings.

Triumph, which was moored across the river from the incident, has many workers living on board undertaking the repairs ahead of an expected return to service on June 3.

Earlier this month the ship broke free of its moorings in Mobile and collided with a barge. A shipyard worker who was on an adjacent pier at the time was killed in the incident.

Three people were reported to be critically injured by today’s explosions, although none associated with Carnival. The fire was said to have burned out by 8am local time this morning.

Blasts rock finish line at Boston Marathon

UPDATED: Blasts rock finish line at Boston Marathon

By Danny King

Two explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line killed at least three people and injured more than 100 people Monday afternoon.

The blasts took place at about 2:50 p.m. Eastern time about 200 feet apart on downtown Boston’s Boylston Street. Federal authorities have been brought to the city to lead the investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

“It is a criminal investigation that is a potential terrorist investigation,” said FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers in a press conference broadcast Monday evening.

Additionally, a fire or explosion took place at Boston’s John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at about 4:15 p.m., though the Boston Police Department said that incident may have been a fire and may not have been related to the first two explosions. No one was injured in that incident.

Many of the blocks surrounding the blast site will be on lockdown through at least Tuesday as federal, state and local investigators canvas the area for additional information, while law enforcement will be conducting random searches on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway lines, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said during the press conference.

Both the 212-room Lenox Hotel and the 148-room Mandarin Oriental Boston, which are about a half-block and one block west of the finish line, respectively, were evacuated and closed by the Boston Police Department until further notice.

Mandarin Oriental spokeswoman Danielle DeVoe said that no injuries occurred at that hotel.

Additionally, the Fairmont Copley Plaza, which is about a block-and-a-half east of the explosions, is only letting guests and hotel employees into the building, the 383-room hotel said on its Facebook page.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restricted air space over downtown Boston.

In Washington, Pennsylvania Avenue in the vicinity of the White House was evacuated and closed to pedestrians and vehicles on Monday afternoon as a precaution.

“We will find out who did this. We’ll find out why they did this,” President Barack Obama said in a briefing. “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.”