An early Tuesday explosion in West Park, Fla., caused by what officials suspect was a gas leak, resulted in the hospitalization of a family of four, leaving their home in rubble and the surrounding area shaken. According to NBC Miami, the blast occurred around 12:30 a.m. at a residence on the 5200 block of Southwest 20th Street, devastating the home and badly damaging those adjacent.
Initial reports reveal that an apparent mushroom cloud, which involved some fire, might have caused the burns suffered by the victims, but by the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had been extinguished by the explosion itself. After the explosion, firefighters found the injured family members, who were swiftly transported to local hospitals. Three of the victims, suffering from burns and trauma, are being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, while the fourth victim was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, as confirmed by Battalion Chief Michael Kane to reporters. “The injuries range from significant to life-threatening,” Kane said in a statement obtained by Local 10 News.
Witnesses at the scene described hearing a massive explosion that was felt as far away as northern Miami-Dade County, and several homes and vehicles in the vicinity sustained serious damage. Aerial footage reflected the extent of the wreckage, with a house nearly obliterated and debris strewn over the once-quiet residential block. “I smelled like a tire, rubbery smoke. And then that was it. I didn’t see any fire or anything like that but I’m just guessing. It was like on the ground. It was a massive explosion," one witness recounted to NBC6.
Officials moved quickly, evacuating nearby residents as a precaution. Search and rescue teams, heightened by the precision of cadaver dogs, combed through the aftermath, ruling out any additional casualties. Firefighters suspected a propane gas leak was the probable cause, yet the exact origin remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. "We just know that the explosion was caused by some type of gas," Kane mentioned in a press conference. The area was cordoned off, with closures expected to continue into Wednesday as engineers inspect the structural integrity of neighboring dwellings.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident and have asked anyone with information to come forward. Broward County Crime Stoppers can be contacted at 954-493-8477 for those who might have insights into the cause of the blast.
