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Mystery explosion decimates top floor of Chicago apartment building at 9:30 a.m., injuring eight – with three people in critical condition: Bomb squad called in
- At around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, an explosion ripped through the top floor of a multi-story building on Chicago’s west side
- At least eight people have been transported to local hospitals, several of them in critical condition
- There is no clear cause of the explosion yet
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At least eight people were transported to hospitals in west Chicago on Tuesday morning after an explosion in a building.
Several of the individuals are reported to be in critical condition and the Chicago Fire Department has requested 10 additional ambulances and is sending a mass casualty vehicle to the site of the collapse.
The descriptions of victims range from burns to “traumatic injuries,” said Deputy Fire Chief Marc Ferman.
An explosives disposal unit and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also on the scene.
The four-story red brick building is located in South Austin, Chicago on West End Avenue. The explosion happened shortly before 9:30 a.m. Central Time.
Buildings next to the explosion site have also been evacuated.
Chicago emergency services responded Tuesday morning to an explosion in the city’s South Austin neighborhood after an explosion sent rocks flying from the top of a four-story apartment building.
The Chicago Fire Department, as well as ATF agents and a bomb squad, arrived at the scene of the explosion
Red brick and rubble littered the area while neighboring buildings were also evacuated
Aerial photos of the building explosion on the west side of Chicago that sent at least six to the hospital
At least eight people were transported to nearby hospitals, at least three of whom are in critical condition
The owner of the damaged building, Roman Viere, said: ‘Our primary concern is the health, well-being and safety of our residents. We are committed to working with the emergency services and are ready to do everything we can to support our residents.”
It is not yet clear what caused the explosion.
Peoples Gas – a natural gas company serving the city of Chicago – says there is no reason to believe at this time that the incident was caused by a natural gas explosion. Representatives from Peoples Gas and ComEd both responded to the explosion.
There is reportedly no smell of gas and no equipment problems at the explosion site.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted: “My thoughts are with those injured and displaced in the building collapse near Austin. We also have to thank the brave men and women of the Chicago Fire Department who are working to reduce the dangerous conditions.”
Neighbors in surrounding buildings said they felt the quake throughout their apartment complex during the explosion.
“I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and everything in the bathroom fell,” says Brice Collier, 35, who lives across the street.
“I thought it was an earthquake,” he told the… Chicago Sun Times.
Contrary to the story of some members of the fire service and Peoples Gas, Shannon Nelson, 34, who lives with Collier, said: “It felt like a terrorist attack,” noting a very strong smell of gas.
“It was so strong…your nose burns.”
Fire truck at the site of the explosion of buildings on the west side of Chicago on Tuesday morning
A woman said she heard the explosion and thought it was a bomb going off
Rescuers at the scene of the explosion
Debris from the explosion was strewn around the area
The fire brigade has called at least 10 ambulances to come to the scene