An investigation remains underway after a significant explosion rocked the Sun Metro Transit Operations Center in El Paso last Tuesday, leading to a critical situation for several individuals and the tragic death of one man following burn treatment in Phoenix, Arizona. As reported by KTSM, El Paso Fire Department Chief Jonathan Killings shared that it might take "a couple of weeks" to conclude the full probe due to the extensive damage to the building.
"That investigation is still underway. Due to the condition of the building, it’s going to take a little bit of time for our investigators to get through all the rubble and be able to complete that thorough investigation," Killings said, as per KTSM. The fire chief, along with other city leaders, had provided scant details on the condition of the eight injured Sun Metro employees during a Thursday afternoon news conference, however, the names of two critically injured workers, German Garcia and Anthony Ortiz, were disclosed via El Paso Matters reporting on GoFundMe pages set up in their support.
The incident has disrupted the function of El Paso's public transportation system, with city officials announcing that Sun Metro would be operating on a limited Sunday/holiday schedule for at least a week starting Wednesday, Feb. 12. This was caused by the significant damage and operational hurdles that arose after the two-alarm blaze engulfed Sun Metro headquarters, necessary measures to maintain at least some level of service to the community.
The nature of the explosion, initially characterized as significant by fire department officials, has yet to be explained. All eight affected employees were rushed to local medical facilities, and according to the El Paso Times, the man who succumbed to his injuries had been receiving treatment at a specialized burn center in Phoenix. The unfortunate outcome highlights the severe ramifications of this unexpected event on the lives of those directly involved and the wider El Paso community.
