Authorities are trying to determine the cause of a house explosion in Evansville that killed three people and hospitalized one. WNIN’s John Gibson reports:
The blast leveled a house in the 1,000 block of N. Weinbach Avenue and damaged a total of 39 other buildings, including the Knight Township Trustee’s Office.
Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly says eleven homes are uninhabitable:
"Houses right next to the blast home definitely are in bad shape."
WNIN News asked Connelly about the investigation:
Gibson: So, do we believe at this point that it was a gas leak that caused the explosion? Connelly: We're trying to find the cause. We don't know the cause."
Connelly said utility crews were on the scene shortly after the blast:
"CenterPoint arrived and made the scene safe. There was no detection of gas and they're restoring service now, as the circuits are safe, determined safe."
Connelly could not confirm that CenterPoint had been dispatched to the area before the explosion.
In a release, CenterPoint said it's “working closely” with the Fire Department, State Fire Marshal, and other agencies.
The American Red Cross is assisting residents who were displaced.
The agency met with affected residents at Vogel Elementary School, but the school was not to be used as an overnight shelter.
The coroner’s office has not yet released the names of the three victims.