A massive explosion at a house in Omaha, Neb. has left one person dead and two critically injured, fire officials said.
According to the local ABC-affiliated television station KETV, the blast occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
The explosion completely flattened the residence. Two neighboring homes were badly damaged by the fire. Debris and ash were found hundreds of feet away.
Omaha Batallion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick told reporters that one person was killed, and two were rushed to local hospital. They are said to be in critical condition.
One person commenting on the press conference, which was streamed live on Facebook, wrote that “at 8:14, my entire house shook. It felt and sounded like a bomb.”
Resident Rob Harless said that a “loud boom” woke him up.
“I looked outside and it was kind of raining fire, and I looked up the street and the house itself was on fire. I yelled to my wife call 9-1-1, then myself I ran up the street and try to help any way I could,” he told KETV.
“I mean, we don’t know each other all by name, but when something like this happens I guess we all were there to help each other,” he said.
Information on name or age of the victims have not yet been released to the public.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the explosion. Omaha police are assisting with the investigation, Fitzpatrick said.
Deputy Police Chief Greg Gonzalez has asked residents to stay away from the area.
“I know folks felt the explosion from blocks away but the scene is being secured,” Gonzalez tweeted Tuesday morning.
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