An explosion in the Village of Wappingers Falls, located in Dutchess County, New York, left 15 people injured on Thursday after a gas line was struck, leading to the destruction of a residential building, according to authorities.
The incident unfolded around 12:15 p.m., with Wappingers Falls Fire Chief Jason Enson explaining at a media briefing that the gas line rupture was caused by an excavator. Emergency crews arrived at the scene to find a working fire and individuals trapped beneath the wreckage of the demolished building.
Wappingers Falls Police Commissioner Paul Italiano reported that among the injured were eight adults and two children, some of whom sustained critical injuries. The full extent of their injuries remains uncertain.
Additionally, five first responders, including a firefighter and four police officers, were being treated at hospitals for minor injuries, which included smoke inhalation.
To provide medical care, two helicopters airlifted three of the injured individuals, while the rest were transported by ambulance, as per Italiano’s statement.
During a news conference, Eric Kiszkiel from Central Hudson Gas & Electric revealed that routine maintenance was underway in the area, which involved replacing a gas main. The gas infrastructure in the region may have dated back to the 1930s or 1940s.
Electric service had been restored, and Central Hudson President and CEO Christopher M. Capone anticipated that natural gas service would be reinstated for nearly all affected customers by the end of the night, according to a statement issued on Thursday evening.
Marcie Ward, an eyewitness, described the powerful blast, stating that her house shook and the impact was felt blocks away. She recounted seeing a young boy being carried out, badly burnt.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded to the incident by deploying emergency personnel from the state to aid in the response efforts. She urged all New Yorkers to follow the guidance of law enforcement and first responders working diligently to ensure community safety and expressed her solidarity with the Village of Wappingers Falls.