“It was definitely a gas episode”, Bollwage said.
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A spokeswoman for the mayor said one person who was initially unaccounted for was later located and wasn’t in the home when the blast occurred at about 8 a.m. Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the mayor said.
Sources said one person was pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation hasn’t located a gas leak, but the probe is continuing.
This story has been corrected to show the number of people taken to hospitals was 14, not 15.
At least two of the injured people suffered critical burns.
No names or ages of any of the victims have been released.
A bystander captured the moment residents ran from their home following a house explosion in northern New Jersey, US that leveled a two-family duplex.
At least two buildings would be demolished as well as a possible third, authorities said, noting that all of the buildings in the vicinity of the blast – a total of about seven – would be inspected.
Elizabethtown Gas spokesman Duane Bourne said Thursday that the utility would not speculate on the cause of the explosion.
Firefighters were forced to shore up the severely damaged house to conduct a search. Officials have not confirmed that information.
The mayor could not confirm whether or not the two-unit building had been “chopped up” into smaller units, he said, but said if any illegal activity is found the investigation will be turned over to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
There was no immediate word on the cause or details on the extent of the injuries.
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The Red Cross tweeted it is helping 44 people with emergency assistance such as temporary lodging, food and clothing.
