At least 2 injured in explosion at condominium building in Oakland County, Michigan
ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - At least two people were injured after a possible gas explosion and ensuing fire destroyed a condominium building Tuesday evening in Orion Township, Michigan, officials said. Another two people who were unaccounted for have been found safe.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the explosion was reported at about 6:30 p.m. local time in the Keatington New Town Association condominium complex on Waldon Road, between Joslyn and Baldwin roads.
Orion Township Fire Chief Ryan Allen says the explosion destroyed a four-unit building, causing significant damage to one building and minimal damage to a few others. He says about 20 people have been displaced. Authorities urge anyone displaced by the explosion and in need of support to call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or Orion Township at 248-391-0304, ext. 2009.
Allen says the two people hospitalized, a 72-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman, suffered critical injuries. Their current condition is unknown. An unknown number of others suffered minor injuries, he added.
The sheriff's office confirmed Wednesday that there were no fatalities in the explosion. Authorities are expected to provide an update on the investigation at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
"Preliminary indications are it was a gas explosion but the exact cause has not been determined," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Allen says crews worked with utility providers DTE and Consumers Energy to control a gas leak.
Orion Township is located just north of Detroit.
One resident who lives nearby told CBS News Detroit he was home with family when the explosion happened.
"We just heard this big boom [It] shuck my entire house. I look out the window, I see flares, I see fire just popping through the sky," the resident said. "It felt like it was going to take a wall down. It felt like it happened at my house. I was terrified. It was so strong."
Consumers Energy said in a statement that because firefighters were still battling the blaze, it did "not have additional information about the cause of the explosion or about the status of anyone in the building."
The company said its crews will get on site once they are given the green light that it is safe to do so.