Gas explosion level 3 Baltimore homes; 1 dead, 1 trapped

Gas explosion level 3 Baltimore homes; 1 dead, 1 trapped

'Come, get us, we're stuck!': Large gas explosion levels in northwest Baltimore homes, killing one and trapping others

A "major gas explosion" completely destroyed three row houses in Baltimore on Monday, killing a woman, injuring several other people and trapping at least one person in the wreckage, firefighters said.

At least three dozen firefighters converged on the disaster scene, where the natural gas explosion reduced to the homes to piles of rubble and pieces of debris. A fourth house in the row was partly destroyed, and the neighbourhood was strewn with glass from shattered windows.

One woman died and three people were hospitalized in serious condition after a major explosion in a residential area of Baltimore, according to Blair Adams, Public Information Officer for the Baltimore City Fire Department.

Baltimore City Fire Department said in a Facebook post that at least three homes were involved in the gas explosion that killed at least one woman. At least two occupants had also been transported to the hospital in serious condition, the department said.

According to the city's local fire union, at least five people, including children, had been trapped but three were rescued as of 10:30 a.m. as search operations continued.

Two of the homes' occupants were taken to hospitals in serious condition, while an adult woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the fire department tweeted.

The firefighters' union tweeted that special rescue operation units were searching for other people.

The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company received an "initial call" from the fire department at 9:54 a.m. on Monday and was working to turn off the gas to buildings in the immediate area, its spokeswoman Linda Foy said.

The explosion left several people, including children, trapped, a local firefighters union said on Twitter. Overhead video of the scene showed first responders searching through the rubble.

Three people have been rescued by firefighters, the Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 said, and the Baltimore Special Rescue Operations Team has begun search and rescue operations.

Baltimore City medical units and Baltimore County Fire Department units also have been called to the scene.

"We are on the scene and working closely with the fire department to make the situation safe," she said, without answering any questions from reporters. "Once the gas is off, we can begin to safely assess the situation, including inspections of BGE equipment."

Moses Glover was inside his nearby home when he heard a boom and looked outside his window. Suddenly, a second blast knocked him off his feet, he told The Baltimore Sun.

"It knocked me across the bed," said Glover, 77. "I came downstairs and saw all of the front of the houses across the street, they were on the ground. I had a picture window downstairs, the glass is in the chair now."

Moses struggled to steady his breathing and said he was "shook up" by the experience.