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| Indianapolis explosion kills two and leads to evacuation of 200 people | Indianapolis explosion kills two and leads to evacuation of 200 people |
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| An explosion that leveled two homes and set two others ablaze in a huge fire forced about 200 people from an Indianapolis neighborhood where two people were killed, authorities said Sunday. The powerful nighttime blast shattered windows, crumpled walls and inflicted other damage on at least three dozen other homes, and could be heard three miles away. | An explosion that leveled two homes and set two others ablaze in a huge fire forced about 200 people from an Indianapolis neighborhood where two people were killed, authorities said Sunday. The powerful nighttime blast shattered windows, crumpled walls and inflicted other damage on at least three dozen other homes, and could be heard three miles away. |
| The explosion, which occurred at 11 pm. Saturday, destroyed two houses that were side by side and spread fire to two other nearby homes. Mark Lotter, a spokesman for the city's mayor, said 27 houses had been rendered uninhabitable and another eight had sustained significant damage. | The explosion, which occurred at 11 pm. Saturday, destroyed two houses that were side by side and spread fire to two other nearby homes. Mark Lotter, a spokesman for the city's mayor, said 27 houses had been rendered uninhabitable and another eight had sustained significant damage. |
| Authorities said they had no immediate information on the cause. The fire department and other agencies were investigating. | Authorities said they had no immediate information on the cause. The fire department and other agencies were investigating. |
| Four people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries after the explosion and fire, the Indianapolis Fire Department said in a statement. Fire Lieutenant Bonnie Hensley said firefighters put out the flames and then went through the rubble and damaged homes one at a time, in case people had been left behind. Two bodies have been recovered. | Four people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries after the explosion and fire, the Indianapolis Fire Department said in a statement. Fire Lieutenant Bonnie Hensley said firefighters put out the flames and then went through the rubble and damaged homes one at a time, in case people had been left behind. Two bodies have been recovered. |
| Some witnesses said in televised reports that they had heard people screaming "Help me! Help me!" after the explosion and fire and that two parents and two children were safely pulled from one house that caught fire. | Some witnesses said in televised reports that they had heard people screaming "Help me! Help me!" after the explosion and fire and that two parents and two children were safely pulled from one house that caught fire. |
| "This looks like a war zone; it really does," Hensley said. "Police officers and fire department officials remain at the scene searching for other possible victims." She said they used search lights until dawn as they peered into the damaged and ruined homes. | "This looks like a war zone; it really does," Hensley said. "Police officers and fire department officials remain at the scene searching for other possible victims." She said they used search lights until dawn as they peered into the damaged and ruined homes. |
| The fire department has not released the names of those killed. Hensley said one body was found in one of the leveled homes after the fire was put out, and added that at least 14 other homes had been damaged by the shock wave or flying debris. | The fire department has not released the names of those killed. Hensley said one body was found in one of the leveled homes after the fire was put out, and added that at least 14 other homes had been damaged by the shock wave or flying debris. |
| People who were asleep when the blast happened were evacuated in their pajamas, scooping up their pets as they left, authorities said. They left what some described as a chaotic scene of tall flames on the Indianapolis skyline. Survivors reported shattered windows, caved-in walls and garage doors knocked off their hinges. Of the two homes that were leveled by the blast, Hensley said: "There's nothing left." | People who were asleep when the blast happened were evacuated in their pajamas, scooping up their pets as they left, authorities said. They left what some described as a chaotic scene of tall flames on the Indianapolis skyline. Survivors reported shattered windows, caved-in walls and garage doors knocked off their hinges. Of the two homes that were leveled by the blast, Hensley said: "There's nothing left." |
| Bryan and Trina McClellan were at home with their 23-year-old son Eric when the shock wave from the blast a block away shook their home. It knocked out the windows along one side of their house. Eric McClellan said he ran to the scene of the explosion and saw homes flat or nearly so. | Bryan and Trina McClellan were at home with their 23-year-old son Eric when the shock wave from the blast a block away shook their home. It knocked out the windows along one side of their house. Eric McClellan said he ran to the scene of the explosion and saw homes flat or nearly so. |
| "Somebody was trapped inside one of the houses and the firefighters were trying to get to him. I don't know if he survived," he said, adding that firefighters had ordered him to leave the area. | "Somebody was trapped inside one of the houses and the firefighters were trying to get to him. I don't know if he survived," he said, adding that firefighters had ordered him to leave the area. |
| All power, gas and other utilities in the area were shut off as a precaution as emergency officials swarmed the site. About 200 people were taken to an elementary school. Most left to stay with relatives, friends or at hotels, but 15 to 25 remained through the night, sleeping on cots. | All power, gas and other utilities in the area were shut off as a precaution as emergency officials swarmed the site. About 200 people were taken to an elementary school. Most left to stay with relatives, friends or at hotels, but 15 to 25 remained through the night, sleeping on cots. |
| Pam Brainerd, a 59-year-old hospice nurse, said she had been asleep when the explosion blew out the upstairs windows in her house. | Pam Brainerd, a 59-year-old hospice nurse, said she had been asleep when the explosion blew out the upstairs windows in her house. |
| "I was sleeping on the sofa and all of a sudden, my upstairs windows were blowing out and my front door was falling in," Brainerd said. "My front door came off the frame. It was the largest bang I've ever heard. There was a house engulfed in flames, and I could see it spreading to other houses." | "I was sleeping on the sofa and all of a sudden, my upstairs windows were blowing out and my front door was falling in," Brainerd said. "My front door came off the frame. It was the largest bang I've ever heard. There was a house engulfed in flames, and I could see it spreading to other houses." |
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