Massive Explosion, Fire In Indianapolis

Firefighters battle flames at several homes on Indy’s southside.

Image by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger / AP

Authorities told Indianapolis’ RTV6 that a natural gas explosion may have caused a fire that broke out just after 11 p.m. local time. WISH-TV reporters on the scene said dozens of homes were damaged and at least two completely destroyed in Indianapolis’ Richmond Hill neighborhood.

An Indianapolis Fire Department spokeswoman told BuzzFeed multiple people were transported to area hospitals, but could not confirm the count or whether there had been any fatalities. WISH has reported one fatality.

About 100 to 150 people were evacuated to the Mary Bryan Elementary School, RTV6 reports.

Image by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger / AP

Image by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger / AP

According to the Indianapolis Star, the blast could be heard from miles away. “It felt like a truck hit my house,” Pastor Bill Jenkins told RTV6. “My police car shook at the same time I heard the explosion,” said Marion County Sheriff John Layton.

katrina @kmexi

I can not believe the explosion that just happened in the neighborhood right behind my house. It literally threw me out of bed #scared

4:38 AM - 11 Nov 12

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Image by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger / AP

“There were two houses just completely down,” Mayor Greg Ballard said in a live interview with RTV6, noting that houses surrounding that area had major damage and that houses for one to two blocks surrounding the destroyed homes had damage like broken windows. “It’s not a pretty scene over there.”

Image by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger / AP

Source: @indysi94

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Via: instagram.com

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KFFUn6rkdTE.

14. Update, 10am 11/11/12:

Fire official Bonnie Hensley said that there were two fatalities, and four additional people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.