Gas explosion kills one, burns down neighborhood near SFO
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| At least one person was killed in a gas line explosion and ensuing fire on multiple homes Thursday night in San Bruno, a city near San Francisco International Airport (SFO), authorities said.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- A gas line explosion killed at least one and set blaze on more than 150 homes Thursday night in San Bruno, a city near San Francisco International Airport (SFO), authorities said.
A local disaster and state of emergency had been declared in the city of San Bruno, local authorities said in a press conference at around 11 p.m. local time.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) spokesman Jeff Smith said one of the utility's natural gas transmission lines ruptured. The reason for the rupture is unknown, he said.
Local media reported that the fire erupted from a punctured petroleum PG&E pipeline beside a high school when a backhoe digging too close clipped the line.
"If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of this incident, we will take accountability," Smith said. "Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this terrible situation."
There is still gas residue in the affected area although the main gas line has been shut down. The firefighters will search through the area the whole night, authorities said in the briefing.
Millbrae Fire Chief Dennis Haag said in the briefing that firefighters had not been able to get into the area to search for people. "We could not get close to the line. We are still not able to access the area fully."
The Office of Emergency Services in San Bruno confirmed one death while earlier reports said two men were found dead after the initial explosion and another one died later from severe burns in the hospital. Several Bay Area hospitals are reportedly receiving patients with burn injuries.
The explosion happened shortly after 6 p.m. local time (0200 GMT Friday) in an area near the intersection of highways 280 and 380 in San Bruno, some 19 km south of downtown San Francisco. The fire then spread to a residential area.
At least 53 homes were destroyed and 120 more damaged, authorities said.
Live TV footage showed a fireball up to 15 meters high in the air continues to burn as multiple homes and cars were set ablaze.
"It was like a detonation. We were in the kitchen. My wife saw flames coming to our house from four or five houses away," Guenter Gruschka told Xinhua in Bay Hill Shopping Center, one of the evacuation places.
"We have not been able to back there. We probably have lost our home," he said.
