A house in West Park became ground zero for chaos in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it exploded, sending a family of four to the hospital and leaving a neighborhood reeling. The blast, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. along the 5200 block of Southwest 20th Street, was reportedly felt blocks away. In the fray of emergency calls, one caller described the harrowing experience, telling the dispatcher, "A house exploded! I was caught in the collision," as per a CBS Miami report.
The aftermath of this incident has seen investigators sifting through debris in an attempt to identify the cause of the explosion. The homeowner, Renes Ledix, expressed his disbelief over the situation in an interview with WSVN, stating, “We don’t use gas in the house." Details on potential causes are scarce as the state fire marshal continues their investigation. According to WSVN, despite significant renovations to the home, including a year's worth of permits obtained by the news outlet, there is no indication of gas work at the property.
The explosion not only demolished a house but also created physical and emotional havoc. An eight-year-old boy, Rodinski Belval, managed to survive and recounted his mother pulling him from the fiery chaos. CBS Miami quoted him recalling the terrifying moment: "I was getting burned and my mother grabbed me. And she got me out." His mother, Rodeline Joseph, is among those who remain in critical care, including a 14-year-old sister and their 66-year-old grandmother.
Amidst the recovery, community leaders are stepping up to support the shaken residents. West Park Commissioner Joy Smith was seen delivering food boxes to those affected by the disaster. Smith acknowledged to CBS Miami that while food deliveries won't solve all the problems, she felt it was fitting given the holiday season saying, "It's Christmas." Other homes in close proximity have been damaged, with some being red-tagged as they are now deemed too unsafe for habitation.
Despite a detailed investigation, the cause of the explosion that ripped through the community remains a question mark. The incident has left the affected family with a somber holiday season ahead, while neighbors and relatives hold onto gratitude that the injured family members survived what Renes Ledix described as unimaginable. "When you look at the video...they can't believe that in that situation the people are still alive," Ledix marvelled in his statement obtained by WSVN.
