SS Sansinena
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The Sansinena was a Liberian oil tanker that exploded in Los Angeles harbor on December 17, 1976.
The vessel was a steamship built in 1958. At its final port of call, the Sansinena had dumped its cargo of crude oil and was taking on ballast and fuel when a massive explosion split the ship in half and obliterated multiple port buildings. The blast shattered windows for miles around and triggered a fire that spread across the dock and around the tanker. The Los Angeles Fire Department soon arrived on the scene to contain the blaze and rescue survivors. A United States Coast Guard investigation later concluded that the incident was caused by flammable vapor buildup on the deck of the ship. The ignition source was never identified.
The official casualty count is:
- 6 dead, all members of the Italian crew
- 3 missing and presumed dead (two crew and one dock security guard)
- 46 injured, 9 requiring hospitalization
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