2 dead after explosion at Ala. Army base

[May 06, 2010]  HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- Officials at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama say two contract workers have died after being injured in an explosion while removing a propellant from rockets.

The public affairs office at the post near Huntsville says the injured men died Wednesday night after they were taken to the burn unit at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Redstone Arsenal officials said in a statement that both men were employed by AMTEC Corporation of Huntsville. They did not immediately identify either victim.

Redstone Arsenal spokeswoman Kimberly Henry says the explosion happened Wednesday morning while workers were removing ammonium perchlorate from the rockets.

The accident did heavy damage to a building where missile and aviation research is conducted.

[Associated Press]

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