Dallas Apartment Explosion: Residents search for missing family and answers
DALLAS - The focus is shifting to recovery and investigation after a gas explosion at an apartment building in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.
At least three people are confirmed dead, five were injured and more are still unaccounted for.
Live Updates
10:00 a.m.: What caused the explosion?
A crew from the National Transportation Safety Board will work to determine the cause of the explosion.
There are still questions about a construction crew that reportedly hit a pipeline.
According to Atmos Energy, it received a report at 12:51 p.m. on Thursday that a construction crew had damaged a natural gas pipeline near 409 E. 9th Street.
However, there are no records of active construction permits for the site. It's still not clear who was doing work or what company was responsible.
Images do show a utility truck at the scene that was partially destroyed by the fire.
9 a.m.: Investigation and Recovery
Dallas apartment residents still missing after explosion
FOX 4 continues team coverage of a deadly gas explosion in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. Several people are still unaccounted for after an explosion and massive fire at an apartment complex. At least three people have been confirmed dead and five were injured.
Overnight, recovery crews cleared out what was left of the structure. The lot now looks nearly empty.
So far, officials have confirmed that three people dead – two women and one child. Five people were taken to the hospital. One person is in critical condition.
A Thursday evening press conference did not address how many residents are still unaccounted for.
A team from the NTSB is heading to Dallas on Friday to investigate the cause of the blast.
Officials confirmed a gas leak was reported just before the explosion.
Atmos Energy also said a construction crew not related to the company damaged a pipeline.
Dallas Apartment Explosion
Families lose belongings, loved ones in Dallas explosion
An explosion at a Dallas apartment complex has left at least three people dead and many without their belongings, pets or a place to call home. FOX 4's Amelia Jones and David Sentendrey have more about the ongoing recovery efforts and what residents are saying about the tragedy.
The backstory:
The explosion and massive fire happened around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at The Clyde apartments, which is near the corner of East 9th Street and North Patton Avenue.
Neighbors said they heard a loud boom, and they felt their own apartments shake.
Images from SKY 4 showed the 20-unit apartment building fully engulfed in flames. The windows on neighboring buildings appeared to be blown out and debris was scattered across the street. There also appeared to be a utility truck that was affected by the fire.
A large plume of black smoke was initially visible in Dallas for miles.
At peak, there were more than 100 firefighters at the scene of the five-alarm fire.
Dallas gas explosion at apartment complex leaves 3 dead, sends multiple to hospital
A suspected gas explosion and fire were reported on Thursday at an apartment building in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. Officials confirmed that at least three people were killed in the explosion, including a child.
The Source: Information in this story comes from Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department, Dallas ISD, and interviews with witnesses.