Four people were believed to have been injured at an explosion, believed to be gas-related, at an apartment complex in Torrance, California, as confirmed by firefighters. At this time, at least two avenues in the area have been closed off. Both the local police department and fire department are believed to be at the scene.
What happened?
According to ABC7, while four people were believed to be hurt, only two people were said to be taken to a local hospital; their current conditions were not immediately made known.
The Torrance Police Department issued the following statement on their official Twitter account:
“T P D and T F D have responded to the 23500 block of Anza Ave. due to a possible gas explosion. Northbound and Southbound Anza Ave. is closed until further notice. Please avoid the area.”
At this time, a cause of the explosion is not known.
Update: According to The Daily Breeze, three victims were taken to a local hospital; the fourth victim was presumably treated at the site of the explosion. Beforehand, all four were treated at the scene of the explosion.
What is the fire department saying?
On their official Facebook page, the Torrance Fire Department issued the following statement:
“At approximately 1:18 pm the Torrance Fire Department responded to the 23500 block of Anza Ave for a reported explosion. TFD units arrived on scene and found a residential apartment complex that sustained significant damage to two individual units along with minor damage to adjoining units. There were a total of 4 patients with varying degrees of injuries. The victims were treated and transported to local area hospitals. Anza Avenue remains closed in both directions as Emergency responders continue their investigations. The Torrance Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team is also on scene performing air sampling and continuous monitoring.”