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| Deadly 'gas blast' at jail in Pensacola, Florida | Deadly 'gas blast' at jail in Pensacola, Florida |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Two jail inmates were killed and more than 180 injured in an apparent gas explosion in a Florida jail, local officials have said. | |
| Part of the Escambia County jail in Pensacola collapsed after the blast late on Wednesday. | Part of the Escambia County jail in Pensacola collapsed after the blast late on Wednesday. |
| As many as 600 people - inmates and corrections officials - were believed to be in the building at the time. | As many as 600 people - inmates and corrections officials - were believed to be in the building at the time. |
| Officials are investigating whether recent flooding could have caused the explosion. | Officials are investigating whether recent flooding could have caused the explosion. |
| "The explosion shook us so hard it was like we were in an earthquake," inmate Monique Barnes told The Associated Press news agency. | |
| "It was like a movie, a horrible, horrible movie." | |
| The blast happened shortly after 23:00 local time on Wednesday (05:00 GMT Thursday). | The blast happened shortly after 23:00 local time on Wednesday (05:00 GMT Thursday). |
| "There was an apparent gas explosion in the central booking area of the Escambia County jail," local spokeswoman Kathleen Dough-Castro said. | "There was an apparent gas explosion in the central booking area of the Escambia County jail," local spokeswoman Kathleen Dough-Castro said. |
| "We had approximately 600 prisoners in the facility at the time. Injured prisoners are being transported under guard to area hospitals. Uninjured prisoners are being transported to other detention facilities." | "We had approximately 600 prisoners in the facility at the time. Injured prisoners are being transported under guard to area hospitals. Uninjured prisoners are being transported to other detention facilities." |
| Three people - two inmates and one correctional staff member - were still in hospital with injuries on Thursday evening. | |
| Parts of Florida - including Escambia County - have been recently hit by heavy flooding caused by a storm system in the region. | Parts of Florida - including Escambia County - have been recently hit by heavy flooding caused by a storm system in the region. |
| A number of roads have been badly damaged. | A number of roads have been badly damaged. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. | Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. |