Toll From Sugar Plant Blast Climbs to 11

[February 25, 2008]  AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Another burn patient has died of injuries suffered in an explosion and fire at a sugar refinery, bringing the death toll to 11, officials said Sunday.

Two weeks after the blast at the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth, 12 other patients remain in critical condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Two are in serious condition.

A 15th patient, whose name was not released, died Saturday evening, said Beth Frits of the Burn Center.

A memorial had been held earlier in the day for the other victims, the 10th of whom died Friday.

The explosion was fueled by airborne sugar dust at the refinery, near Savannah, investigators have said. They have not yet determined what ignited it.

[Associated Press]

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