Firefighters are in a race against the clock to rescue two people trapped after explosion at Philadelphia row home sparking huge blaze
- South 8th Street in south Philadelphia was rocked by powerful blast that brought down a row house at around 11.30am
- More than 100 firefighters are on the scene battling three-alarm blaze
- Officials received multiple calls about the possible smell of gas
Two people were reported to be trapped inside a Philadelphia row home that collapsed after a possible explosion that ignited an inferno this afternoon.
More than 100 firefighters battled a three-alarm fire in the 1400 block of South 8th Street in south Philadelphia.
News video showed orange flames shooting out the top of the collapsed residence and heavy smoke billowing from the scene.
An explosion rocked South Philadelphia late Thursday morning, causing a row house to collapse and sparking a huge fire
A woman is evacuated from a nearby home as firefighters battle a three-alarm fire after a house explosion in Philadelphia on Thursday
More than 100 firefighters are searching for two people who were reported to be trapped in the rubble of a home that collapsed on South 8th Street
Plumes of thick smoke are seen billowing from the scene of the blaze in Philadelphia
Officials said they received multiple calls about a house explosion and the possible smell of gas shortly after 11.30am.
The status of the two trapped people was not immediately known.
Mike Seccia, the owner of the nearby Cosmi’s Deli, told 6abc the blast that preceded the fire was ‘the loudest bang he’s ever heard.’
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said at a press briefing Thursday afternoon that firefighters ‘went into a fully collapsed building that was on fire to try to rescue somebody.’
The commissioner added that three or four buildings have been impacted by the fire.
Lisa Marie Cerra told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she and other residents tried to rescue someone under debris when firefighters arrived.
‘We saw her feet, and then they couldn’t get to her,’ she said.
Philadelphia Gas Works shut off gas to the area, and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.