A mechanical failure or gas likely triggered an explosion that rocked a waterfront hotel under construction, damaging four floors and injuring 14 workers, five critically, a fire official said.The blast occurred around 2 p.m. Monday, ripping off part of the Hilton hotel's facade and sending debris flying. More than 400 construction workers were at the site at the time, Mayor Jerry Sanders said.
Bruce Ragland, who runs an entry gate at the Petco Park baseball stadium about 200 yards from the hotel, said he was looking right at the building when the explosion blew through two sides and set off a shockwave.
"It was just like watching a Bruce Willis movie, like you know, `Die Hard,'" Ragland said.
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