Texas house explosion injures at least 6 people, officials say
[ad_1]
Six people were hospitalized after a home in a Dallas suburb was leveled by an explosion Monday afternoon, fire rescue officials said.
Plano Fire Rescue said on Twitter that an explosion was confirmed at the site, but they did not know the cause. Atmos Energy Corporation, one of the largest natural gas distributors in the nation, was assisting with the investigation.
One resident was inside the home and was hurt, according to fire officials. The other five were neighbors.
Witnesses told local news outlets that they heard a series of booms, which sounded like lightning. Most surrounding homes also sustained damage.
“All of the sudden I heard what I thought was my sliding glass door breaking,” one neighbor told KTVT. “And I just noticed two picture frames on the wall fall down and the sound and that didn’t match up. When my husband pulled into our garage, the roof in our garage had caved in.”
Plano police told the station that they were shutting off gas lines in the area.
“We are saddened by today’s tragedy of a house explosion in our City. Several of our residents were injured,” Plano Mayor John Muns said in a statement, reported KXAS-TV. “We are keeping them and their families close to our hearts and hoping for a swift and full recovery.
Plano Fire-Rescue is working diligently to determine the cause of the blast. We’re asking all of you to keep the victims in your prayers.”
Video footage from the scene shows rubble where the home once was with debris and lumber scattered across the yard and into the street.
There were lightning storms in the area on Monday afternoon. Oncor, a Texas utility company, told KXAS-TV that they were unlikely to be the cause of the storms.
Contributing: Associated Press