The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) was alerted at 7:35 AM to a leak in the pipeline. Crews worked to control the flow, but multiple leaks delayed the shutdown. At 9:25 AM, the gas supply was finally cut, only for a violent explosion to occur ten minutes later, leveling several houses. Residents reported the blast shook the ground and rattled nearby blocks, with debris and thick smoke filling the air.
Brittany Maldonado, a local resident, recounted, “Everything shook violently. Things started falling. It felt like a bomb had gone off or a car had crashed straight into our living room.” Emergency services dispatched more than 75 firefighters, who battled the flames amid downed power lines that caused electric shocks, forcing brief withdrawal from the site. The fire was eventually contained, though the area remains cordoned off for safety.
Of the six injured, three were hospitalized with serious injuries, while the others sustained minor wounds. Officials have yet to confirm whether the victims were residents or construction workers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to determine why the gas flow could not be stopped after the pipeline rupture and to identify the precise cause of the explosion. PG&E has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators.
Authorities are also assessing structural damage to nearby homes, as the explosion’s impact was felt several blocks away. Residents remain shaken, and city officials are reviewing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents during ongoing construction projects.
The incident highlights the dangers associated with high-pressure gas lines in urban areas and raises urgent questions about infrastructure safety and emergency response measures.
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