Suspected gas explosion destroys 2 homes in Pennsylvania neighborhood

A suspected gas explosion has destroyed two homes and injured several people in Pennsylvania just hours after ringing in the New Year on Sunday.

Two houses were completely destroyed in the blast, while others nearby suffered shattered windows, footage from the scene shows. The blast sent at least five people to hospital, including a seriously injured 65-year-old man, a badly burned 60-year-old woman and three others, according to WTXF.

“We were very lucky, as far as we know now, that we didn’t lose any lives, because it’s the middle of the night and everyone is sleeping,” Deputy Fire Chief Charles Walker said. at WTXF. “And if it’s confirmed to be a gas leak, it’s very rare that the magnitude of this type of damage occurs without loss of life, really a blessing.”

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Walker went on to say the smell of gas persisted in the area and fire officials had identified gas leaks.

Walker said two of the injured had pulled out of the rubble while a third had to be dug up.

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A local father told the station his son woke him around 2.30am to tell him the houses behind theirs had blown up and “disappeared”.

Officials observe the wreckage following a suspected gas explosion.

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No deaths were reported as a result of the explosion.