Home explodes in DC suburb: ‘It’s just a pile of bricks’
ROCKVILLE, Md. — A house in a Maryland suburb of the nation’s capital was levelled early Friday by a thunderous explosion heard for miles around, a blast so powerful it shattered windows and caused other damage to several neighbouring homes, authorities said.
The explosion shook the city of Rockville about 1 a.m. and scattered debris widely, a fire official said, adding that while the cause wasn’t immediately known.
As a precaution, utility workers turned off gas and power at the home and others nearby. Fire and utility officials also went door to door asking neighbours to leave for their safety. Yellow police tape cordoned off the site.
“It’s just a pile of bricks. There’s not anything left of the house,” said Pete Piringer, chief spokesman for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. “I’ve heard there were calls from miles away.”