Shocking footage has emerged showing a California house that was obliterated by a powerful gas explosion on Thursday morning, leaving six people injured.
The video, shared widely online, resembles scenes from a war zone, capturing the moment a huge blast struck the Hayward neighborhood, sending dense smoke spiraling upwards and producing a resounding thud.
The explosion happened approximately two hours after construction workers accidentally ruptured an underground gas line, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. However, the utility firm clarified that it was not their own team responsible for the damage.
Emergency crews promptly arrived at the scene and succeeded in shutting off the gas line by 9:25 a.m.
But just moments after this, an explosion erupted, transforming the area into a chaotic disaster site.
The doorbell camera footage depicted a large building engulfed in flames, while debris littered the surroundings.
“We were in our house, and everything just… shook. Items were falling from the walls, and watching the camera footage felt like I was seeing a war video,” shared Brittany Maldonado, who filmed the incident.
Fire officials from Alameda County reported that of the six injured individuals, three sustained minor injuries while the other three were taken to the hospital for further treatment.
PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkisian explained that it took two hours to pinpoint the damaged gas line and mitigate the damage.
Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto of the Alameda County Fire Department noted that firefighters were dispatched at 9:30 a.m. to respond to a report of a house fire on Lewelling Boulevard. Upon arrival, the situation escalated quickly to a third alarm fire, indicating severe complexity in tackling the blaze.
A total of 75 firefighters worked to bring the fire under control.
Damage was reported to three buildings across two lots, in addition to another structure nearby.
Firefighters faced electric shocks when entering several homes, as downed power lines created hazards. Nishimoto also mentioned there were unconfirmed reports of two individuals being missing.
Fortunately, no first responders were reported injured in the explosion.
