At least one person is deceased and another five missing in Allentown, Penn. A natural gas explosion rocked a community at 10:45 p.m. local time Wednesday, February 9. At least one full row of six houses was ruined, and another 16 houses were badly ruined.
An explosion from gas in Allentown, Penn.
The causes for the natural gas explosion in Allentown are not yet known. The causes are “under investigation” according to Allentown fire chief. A gas stove or natural gas leak would have had to have occurred for a long time in order for an explosion of gas that large to occur. The blast was powerful enough that computer monitors were sent sailing six to eight houses away.
Natural gas explosion causes over 600 to be evacuated
In Allentown, Pennsylvania, there was a huge gas explosion. This caused an evacuation of over six-hundred people. The fire that the explosion brought on burned at least six homes. Another 16 homes were damaged. Residents were required to leave their houses in apartment complexes nearby getting inspected. At least one person was killed by the explosion and resulting fire, and another 5 people are still unaccounted for.
Main for natural gas examination to occur
The “routine leak inspection” at the gas main neat the gas explosion near Allentown, Penn., had been passed. A statement from the UGI Utilities, Inc., representative made this clear. There were leaks checked for regularly in the 12-inch cast iron natural gas main running under much of the city. The utility also indicates that there was no history of leaks under the row housing that exploded and no calls about gas odors. The business is uncertain what could have caused the gas explosion. Both sides of the gas main were sealed to stop the burning fire on Thursday morning. This took crews five hours considering they had to cut through reinforced concrete first.
Articles cited
MSNBC http://msnbc.msn.com/id/41504665
Salon http://salon.com/wires/business/2011/02/10/D9L9TOSO0_us_building_explosion/index.html
