A powerful gas explosion has devastated a residential street in Hayward, California, obliterating at least one home and sending six people to the hospital. The blast occurred Tuesday morning, causing widespread damage and igniting a significant fire.
Dramatic video footage captured the immediate aftermath, showing a house being ripped apart by the force of the explosion, with debris and smoke filling the air over the San Francisco Bay Area city. Residents described a terrifying scene of shaking homes and falling objects, comparing the event to a war zone.
Authorities confirmed that six individuals were transported to local hospitals following the incident. The severity of their injuries and whether they were residents or involved in nearby construction work remains unclear at this time. The explosion significantly impacted two homes, with a third property also sustaining damage from the blast and subsequent fire.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) stated that a construction crew damaged an underground gas line around 7:35 a.m. The utility company clarified that their own workers were not involved in the incident that led to the line being ruptured. Utility crews worked to contain the situation, successfully isolating the damaged line and stopping the gas flow by 9:25 a.m.
However, the explosion occurred shortly after PG&E’s intervention, as evidenced by doorbell camera footage. This footage revealed an excavator operating in front of the affected house moments before the massive detonation, which instantly blew out the structure’s walls and roof, leaving behind a scene of utter destruction.
Onlookers were visibly stunned by the scale of the blast, with many rushing towards the wreckage to ascertain the well-being of potential victims. Emergency services, including multiple fire engines and trucks, responded swiftly to the three-alarm blaze, working to control the flames and secure the area amidst the chaos.
Keywords: California gas explosion, Hayward house explosion, residential street blast, six injured in explosion, PG&E gas line, San Francisco Bay Area, construction crew damage, home destruction, emergency response, underground gas line rupture
