Five dead, including a teenager, after explosion in Pennsylvania

CFive people, including a teenager, died following an explosion in a house in the US state of Pennsylvania, according to US publications The incident destroyed three structures and left at least a dozen others damaged on Saturday morning .

Allegheny county police explained that three people were also taken to hospitals following the explosion, which occurred at 10:30 am local time (3:30 pm in mainland Portugal) in the town of Plum.

When firefighters arrived, there were people under the rubble and two houses “engulfed in fire” in addition to the one that appears to have exploded.

Of the three victims referred to local hospitals, one of them was in critical condition, while the other two have already been discharged from hospital. The authorities also revealed that more than 20 firefighters were also evaluated by the emergency teams, many of them for heat exhaustion.

The teams on the ground suspended operations overnight on Saturday, due to the weather conditions in the area and to ensure the safety of the researchers. According to NBC News, 57 firefighters received care because of “minor issues”.

Authorities do not have any estimate as to the number of people who may be missing – in addition to those already officially reported – following the incident. The causes of the explosion are still being investigated.

Those responsible have not yet publicly identified the victims, and say the investigation into this explosion could take time. “This investigation could last for months, or years.”

See the moment of the explosion in the gallery above.

[Notícia atualizada às 8h17 de segunda-feira, 14 de agosto]

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