6 million pounds of gunpowder must be moved - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

6 million pounds of gunpowder must be moved

Louisiana State Police say this photo shows hundreds of thousands of pounds of improperly stored explosive materials on properly leased by Explo Systems, Inc. at Camp Minden (Source: Louisiana State Police) Louisiana State Police say this photo shows hundreds of thousands of pounds of improperly stored explosive materials on properly leased by Explo Systems, Inc. at Camp Minden (Source: Louisiana State Police)

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MINDEN, LA - (KSLA) Authorities now believe they're dealing with more than 6 million pounds of M6 powder at Camp Minden.

Original estimates had the stockpile officials say was improperly stored on property leased by Explo Systems, Inc. at 1 million pounds.

"That's a lot of product, a lot of dangers in there, there are a lot of worst case scenarios, we need to work through those safely," says Louisiana State Police Colonel Michael Edmondson.

The new estimate comes two days into operations to move and secure the smokeless black powder into authorized storage facilities on the site.

The operation is now expected to continue into Tuesday, extending the evacuation of the town of Doyline at least that much longer.

"They are a resilient town and community, and I certainly want to make sure safety is the number one priority," says Louisiana State Police Colonel Michael Edmondson.

Doyline schools were already closed on Monday. Now officials expect for them to be closed Tuesday, as well, but they are waiting to speak with school board members to confirm that.

At a briefing Sunday afternoon, Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said that so far, a million pounds have been safely stored. That's almost 27 eighteen wheelers' worth, he said.

Authorities also revealed at the briefing that they now know that the owners of Explo have been in South Korea. They say they plan to meet with them when they return.

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