Dozens injured as blaze tears through apartment building in Washington DC suburb (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
At least 30 people were injured when an explosion and subsequent fire rocked an apartment building in a Washington DC suburb. Over 160 firefighters and emergency workers were deployed to tackle the blaze, which was being fueled by natural gas.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service say that between five and seven residents are missing and the authorities are trying to find their identities. A total of 30 people have been taken to hospital, while three firefighters have been injured.
Zoom in on this photo and you'll see building debris all over this parking lot. Clearly a result of an explosion. pic.twitter.com/Z7Dn3op0Yt
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) August 11, 2016
The incident took place in Silver Spring, a suburb in the north of Washington DC. Emergency workers conducted “numerous rescues,” but their efforts were hampered by power lines and natural gas, which were fueling the fire, Montgomery County Fire and EMS spokesman Pete Piringer said.
The first reports of the fire came in just before midnight local time (04:00GMT)
I'm at three-alarm fire in #SilverSpring. Eyewitness just gave me this video. Multiple people injured @ABC7Newspic.twitter.com/HaxWvJShJt
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) August 11, 2016
Around 20 to 25 of the building’s occupants were evacuated by medics, according to Montgomery County Fire Captain Oscar Garcia.
UPDATE: Multiple people hurt in #SilverSpring fire, Fire fed by natural gas; fire believed to be under control. pic.twitter.com/zKGKN8myBk
— WTOC Walter Ambrose (@ambrose03) August 11, 2016
Firefighters have said that part of a building at the Flower Branch Apartments complex in the Long Branch neighborhood collapsed. Debris was also found strewn around the vicinity, which indicated that an explosion had taken place.
#Breaking: New Video Just into @ABC7News Of The Fire and Rescues at #SilverSpring Apartment Explosion pic.twitter.com/aJM2iuvblm
— Thomas Tobin (@tvnooz) August 11, 2016
This family of five woke to a loud blast & felt shaking. The children, ages 1/5/7, started to cry. Tired, but okay. pic.twitter.com/kyZyUZEpZp
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) August 11, 2016