DALLAS — A natural-gas explosion tore apart an apartment building in Dallas Wednesday morning, injuring at least seven people.
Dallas Fire-Rescue was called about a gas leak at the complex in the 5700 block of Highland Hills Drive in the Oak Cliff area about 10:20 a.m.
When firefighters arrived, they could smell gas near one of the buildings. The blast occurred while they were investigating, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said.
Seven people, including four firefighters, were injured in the explosion, Evans said. Two of the firefighters were hospitalized in critical condition. Two other firefighters and three people who were in the building all were stable.
Aerial footage showed heavy damage to one building at the apartment complex, with one corner of the two-story building destroyed and smoke wafting through a hole in the roof. Damaged windows could be seen on nearby buildings.
Dozens of residents were seen standing outside their buildings as first responders worked. Dallas police were blocking nearby roads.
The cause of the explosion has not been determined, and a number of agencies are investigating.
In a tweet, Mayor Eric Johnson called the explosion a “terrible situation.”
“Please pray for our firefighters and for the civilians who have been injured,” wrote Johnson, who arrived at the site of the blast Wednesday afternoon.
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