14-8-2023 (PITTSBURGH) Tragedy struck the suburb of Plum in Pittsburgh on Saturday as a house explosion claimed the lives of five individuals and left several others injured. The explosion, which occurred early Saturday morning, resulted in the destruction of three structures and significant damage to at least twelve additional buildings, according to authorities.
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that one person initially unaccounted for after the explosion was among the five fatalities. While the victims have not been publicly identified by the police, officials disclosed that one of them was an adolescent.
????#WATCH: As Surveillance Footage Captures Devastating House Explosion Resulting in Multiple Fatalities
????#Plum | #Pennsylvania
Witness surveillance footage captured on a ring doorbell shows the devastating house explosion that occurred on a Saturday afternoon in Plum,… pic.twitter.com/99BPR1geRy
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) August 13, 2023
The incident unfolded shortly before 10:30 a.m. Eastern time when emergency dispatchers received a distress call alerting them to multiple houses engulfed in flames following an explosion. Emergency responders, including police officers and firefighters, rushed to the scene and discovered individuals trapped beneath the debris, as reported by Allegheny County officials.
Initially, four fatalities were confirmed by Allegheny County officials through social media updates. During a press conference on Sunday, the fifth fatality was announced. Three additional individuals were hospitalized, with two reported to be in stable condition and one in critical condition.
A total of 57 firefighters received on-site treatment for minor issues, many of whom experienced heat exhaustion. County spokesperson Amie Downs stated that emergency responders encountered people trapped under debris after one house seemingly exploded, while two others were consumed by flames. Fire crews from at least 18 different departments worked alongside water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to extinguish the fire.
Officials at the scene acknowledged that they currently lack precise information regarding who was present in the affected homes and whether there were any visitors at the time of the explosion. Consequently, an exact number of individuals unaccounted for cannot be provided. The county medical examiner’s office will release the names of the deceased victims.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with Plum and county law enforcement, as well as the county fire marshal’s office, leading the inquiry. The state public utilities commission and local utilities were also present at the scene. Officials emphasized that the investigation will be a meticulous and protracted process, potentially lasting for months or even years.
Eyewitness accounts shed light on the harrowing experiences of residents in the vicinity of the explosion. George Emanuele, who resides three houses away from the affected property, recounted rushing to the scene with a neighbor before the fire escalated. They discovered a man lying in the backyard and managed to remove him from the danger zone.
UPDATE- at least two homes are completely gone. Other homes are damaged. Two triage areas at least are set up. Over 30 units on scene. No reports of any kind of fatalities as of yet. Neighbors rushing to provide seating, water and shade for first responders. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/elZldg8qmh
— Christopher DeRose (@ChrisDeRoseTV) August 12, 2023
Rafal Kolankowski, who lives a few houses down, described the impact of the explosion, which shattered windows in his home and knocked him and his wife to the ground. After ensuring the safety of their son, Kolankowski ventured outside, where a woman informed him that another woman had been upstairs during the incident, while a man remained trapped in the basement. The woman later emerged covered in white ash, but the individual in the basement had yet to be rescued.
“It’s just tragic, I mean, it looks like a war zone — it looks like a bomb hit our neighborhood, and it’s just unfortunate,” expressed Kolankowski. “I was just with some of the neighbors yesterday, right, and now this happens.”
Jeremy Rogers, residing two doors down, recounted receiving an alert about a problem at his house while he was out shopping. He witnessed debris being propelled through the air. Fortunately, his family was able to evacuate safely, and he was allowed to briefly enter the house to rescue their dog. However, he expressed concern for their three cats, hoping they had managed to escape unharmed.
