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Several people were injured in an explosion and flash-fire Friday in Madison County.

Madison County Emergency Management Director Albert Jones said the explosion happened about 8 a.m. on Virlilia Road, near Livingston Vernon Road, in the Kearney Park area.

Crews were working at a W.S. Red Hancock oil well site doing maintenance on four storage tanks when the explosion happened, authorities said. Drone video shows three of the four tanks still standing after the explosion.

"Most of these tanks were empty. They had just installed two new storage tanks made out of fiberglass, and they were empty. All the welding was supposedly done (Thursday), so they don't know what caused the explosion today," said Minor Norman, fire coordinator for Madison County Fire Services.

Two of the employees suffered burns to at least 50% of their bodies and were flown to a burn unit, fire officials said. Four others were taken by ambulance to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

"You know, we just need the prayers for everyone involved," Norman said. "Everybody was conscious when they were transported and they were explaining to us, the medics, what was going on."

The fire was contained, but firefighters remained at the scene hours later.

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