Opening of NC port delayed because of slow cleanup

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Officials delayed the opening of a North Carolina port because crews haven’t finished cleaning up after a forklift operator accidentally punctured containers of the same explosive used in a Christmas Day airline bombing attempt.

No one was hurt when the containers were ruptured early Tuesday.

Officials said in a statement Wednesday that crews are using the “utmost safety” in cleaning the spill of pentaerythritol tetranitrate. The port was expected to open at 8 a.m. Officials
didn’t say when the port would open.

The cleanup is being performed under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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