House Explosion Near Philadelphia Leaves 5 Dead, 2 Injured

A house explosion in Pottstown, Pennsylvania has left five people dead and two people in critical condition.

6 ABC reports that the incident happened just after 8 p.m. local time on Thursday night, revealing the victims who passed away to be 67-year-old Francine White, 13-year-old Alana Wood, 12-year-old Jeremiah White, 10-year-old Nehemiah White, and 8-year-old Tristan White. The names of the two who have been hospitalized are 44-year-old Eugene White and 32-year-old Kristina Matuzsan.

It’s unclear how the victims are related. It was initially reported that four people had died in the explosion.

Officials have launched an investigation into what triggered the blast, saying that the probe will “continue for some time.”

People living in the area said they often smelled gas in the neighborhood, prompting authorities to look into their concerns. “We went running down the street and a house was completely destroyed,” a neighbor told the news outlet.

The explosion leveled at least one home, and debris has been strewn throughout the area. One of the children’s friends, Shane Rome Lawrence, who went to school with them told 6 ABC, “I was crying earlier because I was sad that they died.” He added, “It’s crazy because nothing really happens in Pottstown.”

Pottstown schools were closed on Friday, per a statement from Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez.