A natural-gas explosion tore through the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno yesterday, igniting a fire that destroyed dozens of homes and killed six people, authorities said.
The explosion occurred when a gas line operated by PGandE Corp. ruptured, according to a statement from the publicly traded utility that serves the Bay Area.
The cause of the blaze hasn't been determined, San Francisco-based PGandE said.
"If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability," PGandE said in the statement.
Fifty-three homes were destroyed and 120 were damaged after a fireball rose more than 100 feet from the site of the blast, said Dennis Haag, the San Bruno fire chief.
At least five people were seriously injured and more than 18 were treated for minor injuries at area hospitals, spokesmen said.
Authorities won't know the final death tally until the fire department conducts a thorough search today, Mr Haag said.
The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating the cause of the explosion and fire and has an investigator at the scene gathering evidence, the agency said in a statement.
The commission will "gather all relevant information about the incident and obtain information from PGandE," it said.
"A terrible, terrible tragedy has fallen on our city," said Jim Ruane, mayor of San Bruno. "This is going to be a long haul."
Authorities expected to bring the blaze under control and begin the search for any additional casualties, he said.
The suburb of San Bruno is near San Francisco International Airport. "It started as a rumbling and then the flames came," Bob Pellegrini, a 48-year old San Bruno resident, said at the Bayhill Shopping Centre parking lot where more than 100 hundred people evacuated to.
"Then smoke came into the house and the intense heat started burning the wood.
Every car on the street was burned. We ran out back, out the side gates and down the street behind us."
Bloomberg