US: 1 dead, several injured after gas explosion levels Baltimore homes

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Published: August 11,2020 08:46 AM
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August 11, 2020: A natural gas explosion destroyed three row houses in Baltimore on Monday, killing a woman and trapping other people in the wreckage.

August 11, 2020: A natural gas explosion destroyed three row houses in Baltimore on Monday, killing a woman and trapping other people in the wreckage. At least six people were seriously injured, and firefighters were searching for more survivors.



According to the sources, dozens of firefighters converged on the piles of rubble. A fourth house in the row was ripped open, and windows were shattered in nearby homes, leaving the northwest Baltimore neighborhood of Reisterstown Station strewn with debris and glass.





"One adult woman deceased as BCFD continue to search for more," the Baltimore City Fire Department posted on Twitter.



Three patients, all in critical condition, were rescued by firefighters, the Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 wrote on Twitter.



"Several houses exploded. At least 5 people trapped, some children," the union said.



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"Rescuers are communicating with one person still trapped. #BCFDSRO Special Rescue Operations Team is working to get to the person. One person has been pronounced dead on scene," the union said in a separate post.





Officials from Baltimore Gas and Electric Co and the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management were at the scene, the Baltimore Sun reported.



"We are on the scene and working closely with the fire department to make the situation safe," gas company spokesman Richard Yost told the Sun. "Crews are working to turn off gas to the buildings in the immediate area. Once the gas is off we can begin to safely assess the situation including inspections of BGE equipment."