Video shows South Austin neighborhood building explosion, collapse

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Video obtained by CBS 2 on Wednesday shows an explosion at a South Austin neighborhood apartment building that injured eight people the day before.

Meanwhile, as CBS 2's Steven Graves reported Wednesday, residents returned to the site of the devastation Wednesday. They picked up their belongings and left.

Many went on to a nearby church, Circle Urban Ministries at 118 N. Central Ave., nearby to sleep on cots. And they are wondering what went wrong.

Two clips were obtained by CBS 2's Steven Graves. Taken from different angles, both show a person running who appears to be holding a small child running for their life -- narrowly missing the blast and a shower of dust and debris that come crashing from the four-story apartment building at 5601 W. West End Ave.

One angle also shows a bright yellow or orange flash before bricks and wood fly from the building.

The explosion and collapse happened around 9 a.m. Tuesday. Eight people were rushed to area hospitals. Three of them were left in critical condition, with the most seriously injured patient suffering "very traumatic burn injuries."

Deputy Fire Commissioner Marc Ferman said Tuesday that one of the people who was injured was across the street at the time.

"It's devastating," said William Pitts. "It's like starting all over."

Pitts lived on the second floor of the building. He was one of about a dozen people who returned Wednesday to pick up belongings, which building owners told residents was safe for them to do.

But video given to CBS 2 by people inside shows there is clear devastation. A hole was seen blasted through the wall, and debris was scattered on stairwells.

"I feel broken -- like I've got to start all over," said Monique Younger, "and I've got to start all over with my son."

Younger, a mom, is sleeping on a cot at a nearby ministry with her small son. She was also allowed back into the building to collect her belongings earlier.

"That's the hardest part, seeing him. You know, him having to see him mom broken and having her start over," she said. "I pay rent every month so I can have a place to have my son lay his head. Not a couch, not a floor - he got a bed, a room."

On Monday, CBS 2's Kris Habermehl initially reported the debris pattern from the explosion has all the patterns of a natural gas explosion, and Nelson said smelled natural gas in the air after the explosion.

However, a Peoples Gas spokesperson said the cause of the explosion remains unknown, and "there is no reason at this point to believe the cause is related to gas or any of our equipment." As to the question of a gas explosion, the building owner said an investigator told him it likely was not what happened.

CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey caught up with the owner, Roman Viere with West End LLC on Monday.

"One investigator said that they don't believe it's gas. That's all I've got to go with," Viere said. "I asked, him if it's not gas, what could it be? And he said, 'A boom.'"

The building owner confirmed restoration work in a vacant unit was happening during the explosion, but he also does not believe that to be the cause.

"It's really devastating and left us in an emotional, distraught situation, and basically, it was kind of traumatizing," Pitts said.

Pitts is also sleeping on a cot at Circle Urban Ministries. It is teaming up with the American Red Cross to help – and take on a counseling role for people with nowhere to go.

"The common thread is that people are in shock," said James Borishade, chief executive officer and executive director of Circle Urban Ministries. "I've heard PTSD a lot: 'I have PTSD; I'm still traumatized by it.'"

Borishade said his organization expects to help about 13 families for at least another night – as people grapple with the unthinkable playing out at their home.

On Wednesday, the Fire Department and the building owner said the investigation into what happened is ongoing.

Of the eight people injured in the collapse, only one person is still hospitalized.

The shelter at Circle Urban Ministries is staying open for at least another night – housing about 13 families.

In:
• West Side
• South Austin