Towns evacuated after ‘Armageddon’ of blasts destroys homes and kills teenager
A SERIES of gas explosions a fire chief described as “Armageddon” has killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three towns north of Boston, America.
Police said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.
Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, causing traffic james and widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.
“It looked like Armageddon, it really did,” Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters.
“There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.”
Governor Charlie Baker said the state was investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.
“This is still very much an active scene,” he said.
“We want to determine exactly what happened and why.”
One theory was that gas pipes were over- pressurised and this caused the blasts and levelled some homes.
Hours after the explosions, the utility’s parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s incident,” Indiana-based Nisource said.
“The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community.”
Mr Baker previously said authorities had not heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the company’s response “adequate”.
By yesterday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires.
Schools in all three communities were cancelled yesterday, and some were being used as shelters for residents.