Powerful Explosion Occurs in Pennsylvania Settlement, 5 Killed
A powerful explosion occurred in a Pennsylvania settlement, and 5 were killed. The blast also destroyed three buildings and damaged at least a dozen others.
 |
| Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum, Pa., on Saturday (Photo: Samuel Long/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) |
Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said the bodies of four adults and a teenager were found after an explosion early Saturday in the area, about 32 kilometers east of Pittsburgh.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated by authorities
"This is certainly a sad, sad, sad day, not just for the people of Plum but everyone in the community and the region," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, reported by News Daily, Monday, August 14, 2023.
Of the three people taken to hospital, two were discharged. One remains in critical condition, said Steve Imbarlina, Allegheny's deputy director of fire and emergency services.
57 firefighters were treated at the scene for minor problems. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to provide additional information about the deceased.
Also, read: Wildfires in Hawaii are like war zones.
"Please give us time to deal with this situation and give the family your respect and give them space to deal with this tragedy," Conley said.
Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast flattened one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said.
Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to put out the blaze with the help of water tank cars from Allegheny and Westmoreland.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated by the fire department's office along with county law enforcement.
Imbarlina warned that the investigation would be a "slow and lengthy process" that would include a lot of forensic testing and could last "months or even years."
Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company's checks for underground and airborne gas leaks and consistent pressures verified at regulatory stations showed that "our systems are operating as designed."
Gas and electricity services were shut down as a precaution. Officials said a plan was being made to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be restored to all but a few residences.
Governor Josh Shapiro said he was "praying for the families" affected and promised them that "as you rebuild, we will support you."