Gas Explosion Destroys Dallas Apartment Building
A gas explosion destroyed an apartment building in Dallas on Thursday. The blast caused a large fire and the building collapsed.
It happened at the El Ricardo Apartments on East 9th Street. About 100 firefighters were sent to the scene.
An unknown number of people were killed. Four people were taken to hospital.
At least 11 people are still missing. The search has shifted from rescue to recovery.
The Dallas mayor said teams are still searching for survivors and victims. A construction crew damaged a nearby gas pipeline just before 1 p.m.
This triggered the explosion. The construction crew was not connected to energy company Atmos Energy. A family reunion centre has been set up at a local high school for those affected.
Klear Note — Gas explosions happen when gas leaks and ignites. They can destroy buildings and cause fires. Damaged pipelines are a common cause.
Key Terms 2
- recovery mode Search shifts from finding survivors to finding those who died
- Atmos Energy The gas company that supplies the area's natural gas pipelines