According to reports from Fox News, CBS, and other American media outlets, the Dallas city government announced that a gas explosion occurred in an apartment building in Dallas on the afternoon of the 28th. Several people have been killed, and at least four people are hospitalized. At least 11 residents remain unaccounted for. The exact number of casualties is still being determined.
According to the Dallas Fire Department and the Dallas Police Department, the fire broke out around 1 p.m. Rescue personnel received a report of a gas leak in the apartment building. The explosion occurred while they were on their way to the scene. By the time the rescue team arrived, the fire had been classified as a Level 2 emergency, and later upgraded to a Level 5 emergency. Over a hundred firefighters were deployed to assist in the rescue efforts.
US media reports show screenshots
The police stated that the accident is still being handled and investigated. Many of the missing persons phones remain unresponsive. The work at the scene has shifted from search and rescue operations to the search for the bodies.
From the aerial footage, it can be seen that this small apartment building was completely destroyed by the fire. The windows of neighboring buildings were shattered, and debris scattered across the streets.
In the early stages of the incident, black smoke could be seen from several miles away.
After the fire subsided slightly, the footage showed that the walls of the apartment building were covered in ash, and the roof had collapsed. The entire building was reduced to ruins.
Dallas Fire Department
According to NBC News, on the day of the incident, a construction worker accidentally damaged a gas pipeline while working inside the building, which led to an explosion.
The local natural gas supplier, Atmos Energy Company, stated that the company received a notification from the fire department at 12:51 p.m. They learned that a construction team unrelated to their company had damaged the natural gas pipelines near the incident site.
The gas company stated that technicians have arrived at the scene to assist emergency responders with their work. The natural gas supply in the surrounding areas has been cut off, and further investigations are still underway.
