6 people hospitalized after house explodes in Plano, Texas: Officials
Six people were rushed to a hospital on Monday after a house exploded in a Dallas suburb, officials said.
The explosion occurred at around 4:40 p.m. local time in a residential neighborhood of Plano, Texas, about 20 miles north of downtown Dallas. Plano Fire-Rescue said a one-story home was "entirely destroyed" by the blast, the power of which was felt up to a mile away by residents as well as staff at a public library.
The homes on both sides of the exploded house "sustained extreme structural damage," while the ones across the street had windows blown out, according to Plano Fire-Rescue.
One resident, who was inside the home that exploded, was found within the rubble by first responders and subsequently transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Five others -- two adults and three children -- who live in the house next door were also injured and taken to the hospital, Plano Fire-Rescue said.
The lone resident of the home on the other side of the exploded house was not injured by the blast, according to Plano Fire-Rescue.
Plano's fire marshal and his investigators have since determined that the explosion was most likely caused by a gas leak inside the home. The leak was isolated to that house and no other homes are in danger, Plano Fire-Rescue said. However, further investigation is needed to find out exactly where the leak was located within the house.
"The extensive damage to the home will hinder these ongoing investigations," Plano Fire-Rescue said in a statement Tuesday.
In addition to investigators from Plano Fire-Rescue, representatives from Atmos Energy and Oncor Electric along with the Plano Police Department's bomb squad and agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were all on scene Tuesday. Authorities determined there were no hazardous materials or explosives on site, and that the house was not a crime scene, according to Plano Fire-Rescue.
Electricity and gas were shut off for the entire block until about 9:30 p.m. local time, when Atmos Energy and Oncor Electric determined it was safe to reinstate power and gas except for the exploded house and the two next door, according to Plano Fire-Rescue.
Plano Mayor John Muns said investigators were "working diligently to determine the cause of the blast."
"We are saddened by today's tragedy of a house explosion in our city," Muns said in a statement on Monday evening. "Several of our residents were injured. We are keeping them and their families close to our hearts and hoping for a swift and full recovery."
