A powerful explosion ripped through a two-story apartment building in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood Thursday afternoon, May 28, leaving 11 people unaccounted for as firefighters dug through piles of collapsed rubble and smoldering debris.
The blast hit the El Ricardo apartments in the 400 block of East 9th Street, just east of the popular Bishop Arts District, around 12:47 p.m.
Officials say crews had responded to reports of a gas leak when the explosion occurred.
A contractor working in the area is believed to have struck a natural gas line, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Massive Blast Levels Sections of Oak Cliff Apartment Building in Dallas
The force of the blast partially collapsed sections of the building, scattering debris onto neighboring homes.
Eyewitnesses said thick black smoke rose high enough to be seen from downtown Dallas as flames tore through the structure.
Nearly 100 firefighters from across the city battled the four-alarm fire. Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said they had the fire under control by mid-afternoon, but search operations continued into the evening with the help of drones and teams carefully moving through the wreckage.
The building housed about 23 residents, but as of Thursday evening, 11 remained missing. At least four people were taken to area hospitals.
Officials have not released their conditions or names, and they warned the injury count could rise. No deaths have been confirmed.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene, with one nearby resident saying the explosion shook her house so hard that pictures fell off the walls. She grabbed her cat and ran to her safety.
Others reported hearing a deafening boom, followed by chaos. Some neighbors rushed in to help pull people from the debris, including a young girl.
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Dallas Fire-Rescue set up a family reunification center at W.H. Adamson High School to help connect residents with loved ones.
City officials have urged people to stay away from the area to allow emergency crews to work, and the city mayor, Eric L. Johnson, thanked first responders for their quick action.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected and the brave men and women working to find those still missing,” he said in a statement.
The explosion comes as crews nationwide have dealt with several high-profile incidents in recent days.
Last week, officials in Orange County, California, evacuated nearly 50,000 people over fears of a possible chemical explosion.
On Tuesday, an industrial blast in Longview, Washington, killed at least two workers and left others missing.
Firefighters Launch Intensive Search-and-Rescue Mission
In Oak Cliff, the search continued as the sun went down. Firefighters used ladders and tools to probe unstable sections of what was left of the building.
Heavy equipment stood ready to help clear larger debris once it was safe to do so.
Residents who live nearby said the building was older and housed a mix of families and working people. Many had been home during the middle of the day when the blast hit.
City inspectors and gas company crews were on scene by Thursday evening, working alongside fire investigators.
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Atmos Energy, the local gas provider, has been asked to help determine what happened with the line that was struck.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said crews would work through the night if needed.
“This is a very active search and rescue operation,” he told reporters. “We are treating every possibility that people could still be inside.”
Officials say updates will come as more information becomes available concerning the 11 unaccounted-for residents.
