Giddings explosion
leaves three injured

GIDDINGS, Texas (KXAN) - Three men, Orlando Olivia, 29, Leovigildo Hernandez, 37, and Porfirio Correa, 45, are listed with critical injuries after a water tower explosion in Giddings, Texas.

"I heard kind of a big explosion," said Skinder Nansy, a convenience store owner nearby. "Boom and the whole store kind of shake. Somebody thought there was a wreck. Somebody thought at first there was a head on collision. It was a big bang."

Instead, the loud noise came from inside the above ground water tank as the three workers were grinding, welding and sandblasting on top of it. They were prepping the tower for new painted logos. According to the Giddings Police Chief, the men were blown off the top of the water tower.

The men were flown to Brackenridge in Austin with critical injuries from the 40 foot fall. Olivia suffered multiple fractures and burns and was flown on to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. The Giddings Police Department said Hernandez is in the emergency and may possibly go into surgery. He has injuries to his right shoulder. Correa is in the Intensive Care Unit, and at least five places on his spine are broken.

S&L Painting out of Houston had contracted the three workers to work on the city's water towers. "Great company, been there a long time, doing a lot of work on water towers, great safety record," said Johnny Jones, a painter who worked on the water tank Wednesday.

There is no word on what may have caused the explosion. OSHA could be conducting an investigation into the explosion. Although the water tower is the main source of water for Giddings, no water services were interrupted.