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2 workers killed in flooded Boston trench

BOSTON – The Boston Fire Department says it has recovered the body of the second of two workers who died in a trench that flooded after a water main gave way in the city’s South End neighborhood. 

The department says in a Twitter message around 8:15 p.m. Friday that recovery operations are now complete. The bodies are with the medical examiner’s staff and the Boston Police Department.

The department’s message urges people to “remember their families/friends.” The victims have not yet been publicly identified. 

The Boston Fire Department says two people were killed after they were trapped in a trench when a water main broke in the South End, CBS Boston reports

The water main break broke on Dartmouth Street just after 1 p.m. on Friday.

Firefighters said two people were killed, and crews are still trying to drain the area to safely recover their bodies after a water main broke Friday afternoon. A recovery effort is continuing and it’s not yet known if anyone else was in the trench. 

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans urged drivers to avoid Dartmouth Street between Warren and Tremont Streets.

The area will likely be closed at least through Saturday morning.

Firefighters are using a large vacuum to remove water from the trench.

It is not yet known how deep the trench is. Water has been shut off to the area.

Firefighters said they are now moving forward as a “recovery not rescue operation.”

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  Crews worked frantically to drain the trench on Dartmouth Street Friday afternoon. WBZ

Mayor Marty Walsh arrived on scene a short time after the incident.

Boston EMS said it has evaluated two people on scene but no one has been transported yet.

“I would say the street is going to be shut down for quite some time,” he said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been requested to respond to the scene.

Evans said police and firefighters will work with OSHA to determine what caused the deadly incident.

“I heard the officers screaming on the air very quickly to get fire and everyone down here. They realized very quickly we had workers trapped down there,” said Evans.

No further details are currently available.

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