A suspected gas explosion destroyed two homes and injured several people in Pennsylvania just hours after celebrating the New Year on Sunday.
Two houses were completely destroyed by the blast, while others nearby suffered broken windows, footage from the scene shows. The blast sent at least five people to the hospital, including a 65-year-old man with serious injuries, a 60-year-old woman with severe burns and three others, according to WTXF.
“From what we know now, we were very lucky that we didn’t lose any lives, because it’s midnight and everyone is sleeping,” Assistant Fire Chief Charles Walker told WTXF. “And if it’s confirmed to be a gas leak, it’s very rare for damage of this magnitude to occur without loss of life, a real blessing.”
MULTIPLE NYPD OFFICERS STABBED WITH MACHETE NEAR TIMES SQUARE
A damaged house after a gas explosion in Pennsylvania. (WTFX)
Walker went on to say that the smell of gas still lingered in the area and that fire department officials had identified gas leaks.
Walker said two of the injured had emerged from the rubble while a third had to be dug up.
NEW YORK CITY ALLEGED SUBWAY SHOOTER PLEADS GUILTY TO SHOOTING 10 PEOPLE IN APRIL: PROSECUTORS
A local father told the station that his son had woken him around 2:30 a.m. to tell him that the houses behind his had blown up and “disappeared”.
Officials look at the wreckage after a suspected gas explosion.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
No deaths have been reported from the explosion.
