Several people lost their lives in a massive blast after an abandoned underground mine exploded.
At least five people were already confirmed dead after three homes were destroyed following an explosion in Plum, Pennsylvania.
According to the preliminary reports, four adults and one child were killed when an abandoned mine beneath a residential area exploded. At least ten other people suffered some kinds of injuries.
“This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
As of this writing, it is not clear what exactly caused the explosion in the otherwise peaceful community. It is also not clear who the victims of the blast were. It was revealed, however, that the affected houses sit on top of an abandoned mine close to a number of gas and oil wells.
Meanwhile, shocking Ring footage showing the moment of the explosion began circulating the internet.
In the footage, one house can be seen bursting into debris as a giant plume of smoke and fire rose toward the sky.
“It’s just tragic, I mean, it looks like a war zone — it looks like a bomb hit our neighborhood, and it’s just unfortunate,” one neighbor of the victims said, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Another local said: “I heard this ‘boom.’ It was so loud that it woke me up. I thought it was thunder from the storms last night. My water bottle fell on me instantaneously. I was shaking. It scared me so bad.”
In photos from the scene, three homes can be seen razed to the ground as a result of the explosion. Reports also suggest heavy exterior damage is present in other nearby homes.
What are your thoughts on this news? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends. For more news and stories, follow us on Facebook!