Washington state homeowners missing after explosion
PORT ORCHARD, Washington - A massive house explosion in a Seattle suburb knocked out windows several hundred yards away and was mistaken by some locals to be an earthquake.
Officials told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV in Seattle the explosion occurred in a residence in Port Orchard shortly after 4 a.m.
Kitsap County Sheriff Scott Wilson said the home was a double-wide manufactured home. It is not known if the homeowners -- who are unaccounted for -- were inside during the explosion.
Officials said the home was leveled by the blast, and the fire has been contained. The cause of the explosion is unclear.
An elementary school several hundreds yards away saw many of its windows shattered.
Several nearby residents told KIRO they initially thought it was an earthquake. One resident told KIRO that officers at Naval Base Kitsap in nearby Bremerton across the inlet from Port Orchard sent officers searching the base for the source until they realized what had happened.
Massive house explosion near Port Orchard felt miles away. Shattered windows at Elem. school nearby. pic.twitter.com/PBUxgM3OXv
— Jeff Dubois (@JeffKIRO7) February 23, 2016
We can confirm an explosion at a residential structure that leveled the building. Fire has been contained at this time. Cause is still unknown and under investigation by the KC Fire Marshal.
Posted by South Kitsap Fire and Rescue - Official Site on Tuesday, February 23, 2016