As of the last figures released, the media has learned that 34 persons – 31 citizens, three firefighters – have been injured as a result of the fire and explosion at the Maryland apartment and have subsequently been taken to nearby hospitals.
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Officials from Montgomery County and the American Red Cross set up a temporary shelter at the Long Branch Recreation Centre, near the scene of the fire.
“As many as seven people were still unaccounted after the blast early Thursday morning in Silver Spring, according to Peter Piringer, a public information officer with the Montgomery County Fire Department”.
Firefighters found people on upper floors who needed help, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said at a briefing. Those victims still have not been identified. An off-duty police officer was the first to report the blast at 11:52 or 11:54 p.m., officials said.
If anyone is still inside the building, they are likely not alive, Hamill said. “The movement of debris itself presents a challenge”.
“We are not prepared to discuss at this time any causes of this incident”. Officials said they suspended rescue efforts and switched to recovery mode. In some cases, more people may have lived in a specific apartment than were listed on the official records.
At least one woman who lives in a neighboring apartment building said she has detected the smell of gas for a while.
Erick Jimenez, who spent Thursday looking for his father, Caesar Jimenez, was losing hope Friday as his father continued to be unaccounted for.
Nearly 100 people were forced from their residences at Flower Branch Apartments on Wednesday night, reported the Washington Post.
Blast debris was scattered almost 200 feet, including what appeared to be an apartment door blown all the way across a two-lane road and parking lot. The whole apartment is on fire, from bottom to top. “It blew up. Everything’s collapsed”.
WJLA has reported that witnesses have described that they could hear a loud “boom” while some residents said that they felt their homes shake as the explosion rocked the apartment complex. A total of three firefighters were injured. Local television showed firefighters helping people down fire ladders.
Battalion Chief Dan Ogren says the bodies of two people were removed from the building Thursday and taken to the Office of the chief Medical Examiner for autopsies and identification. Hospital officials said most were released Thursday.
“People were dropping children and jumping out of other windows, ” Goldstein told WRC-TV. “Everybody was getting out of the building as rapidly as possible”. Authorities have not confirmed the number of missing residents or their names.
The Red Cross was working with families to determine what kind of help they need.
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Regional disaster director Paul Carden said Thursday those who were displaced are primarily Spanish speakers.
