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Breaking: Home Explosion Kills 3 In Indiana

Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly announced on Wednesday that an explosion in Evansville, Indiana has led to the death of three people and 39 homes sustaining damage.

“There could be other victims, we have not completed our search,” Connelly said. “The buildings are not yet safe to enter.”

The chief added that the 39 homes suffered “severe to minor damage.”

Of the total 39 homes, it appears that 11 have been left inhabitable by the damage, to which the families of those homes will be helped by the American Red Cross.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke shared photos of the scene on Twitter, which depicted the extensive damage of the homes and various piles of debris strewn about.

Winnecke shared in the post that first responders and local departments will “keep residents in the Willemette Village/Wesselman Park neighborhoods safe and informed.”

CNN affiliate WFIE was told by the mayor that the scene was beyond “devastating” and a cause to the explosion will take some time to figure out.

“I’d seen photos that have been placed online, but once I walked up to the residence itself and saw the devastation with my own eyes, it was, I mean, it was a gut punch,” Winnecke said.
“Across the street from the explosion you’ll see house after house that has windows blown out, that has you know there’s insulation blown out from homes,” the mayor added.
The chief shared that a structural collapse team has been called to survey the buildings to ensure the “integrity” of the gas and electric circuits.
Over eight agencies arrived at the scene of the explosion, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the State Fire Marshal.
“They will resume the investigation in the morning,” the chief said at a news conference. “This is a standard operating procedure for an incident of this magnitude and of this type.”
Once utilities are secured and the ATF can determine its part of the investigation is complete, search and rescue teams will be granted permission to re-enter the area, according to Connelly.
Residents have also been asked to stay away from the area while an investigation of the incident is underway.
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