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Water Tank Bursts, kills two in a tsunami-like wave … EYE Report
Lake Placid, Florida – The Highlands County Sheriff's Office confirms two people are dead following a tsunami-like wave caused when a water tank burst near an industrial building in Lake Placid.
The accident happened around 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon on State Road 70 just west of 27.
Photos: Aftermath of water tank failure
Investigators say two workers may have been attempting to fill a 300,000 gallon tank at the time of the accident.
The force from the water was so great, investigators say it tore through a concrete block wall, forcing the building to collapse on top of the two workers inside.
"It somehow burst. It somehow had a leak and burst, creating what is typically like a tsunami," said Nell Hays, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies say the former Georgia Pacific manufacturing plant has new ownership, but isn't operating yet.
The names of the workers are being withheld pending positive identification and notification of kin.
It is still unknown what caused the structure to fail.
Highlands County investigators will be back at the site on Friday morning to get another look at the damage.
Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are also expected to there on Friday.
