A house explosion in Chino Hills, California injured eight people, damaged nearby homes, and forced evacuations across the neighborhood.
Eight people were injured after a house exploded in Chino Hills, California on Sunday, according to a report from THE WASHINGTON TIMES. The blast destroyed the home, damaged two neighboring houses, and prompted firefighters to evacuate 16 surrounding residences as a precaution.
Fire officials said the cause of the explosion had not yet been determined, but confirmed a gas leak at the scene had been shut off. Photos and video showed the property reduced to rubble as crews continued working through debris. “Crews will remain on scene to continue the overhaul and investigation,” the Chino Valley Fire District said in an online statement.
Four victims were transported from the scene to hospitals, while four others later arrived on their own. Their conditions were not immediately released. Witnesses told KABC-TV they saw people running from the destroyed home, including children crying for help.
Residents whose homes were not damaged were gradually allowed to return later on Sunday. Authorities said they had reached out to the Southern California Gas Company for further information.
Chino Hills, a community of about 78,000 residents located 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, has not reported prior incidents of this scale in the neighborhood. Fire crews are expected to remain at the site as the investigation continues.