Multiple home explosions leave atleast two dead, 18 houses damaged
At least two people were killed and 18 homes damaged by a thunderous explosion in a south Indianapolis neighborhood late Saturday night, NBC affiliate WTHR reported.
UPDATE: Victims identified, a few more details released – read here
Dramatic images from the scene showed large fires and destroyed homes. Among the pictures were some posted to Twitter by Indianapolis Star photographer Matt Kryger.
Local fire officials confirmed to WTHR early Sunday that at least two people died in the explosion.
“Multiple houses engulfed in flames. Even the police officers that got to the scene before I did were not sure what happened. Kind of a surreal scene, even for police officers,” Marion County Sheriff John Layton told the station.
“We’re going to need some comforting in the next few days,” Mr Ballard said.
Local resident Pam Brainerd told Associated Press: “I was sleeping on the sofa and all of a sudden, my upstairs windows were blowing out and my front door was falling in. My front door came off the frame. It was the largest bang I’ve ever heard.
“When I walked outside I saw the fire. There was a house engulfed in flames and I could see it spreading to other houses.”
Lieut. Bonnie Hensley with the Indianapolis Fire Department Hensley said the cause of the explosion remains unknown, adding investigators would better assess the rubble after daybreak Sunday for clues.
Approximately 200 people were taken to an elementary school, Hensley said. Rescue crews remained at the scene Sunday, searching in the event of finding any more victims. All power and other utilities were cut to the neighborhood. Most of the evacuees later went on to stay with relatives, friends or at hotels, though about 15 to 25 were spending the night at the school on cots.
The powerful blast caught sleeping people unaware, so strong that it knocked garage doors off their hinges and caved in walls of homes in the residential community on the south side of Indianapolis. Many awakened by the blast scooped up their pets and were led away, still in their pajamas.
photo Steve Baker http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebiglens/6569999919/
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