At least 20 people are injured in an apparent gas explosion at a Florida shopping center

[FM123]

OMG, my son lives down the street from the shopping center and that is where he and his girlfriend shop but they were not there today.....


CNN The Plantation Fire Department initially said a gas explosion had occurred. But officials later said they are still confirming the cause.
"We had ruptured gas lines. We did have an active gas leak when we arrived, (but) they were able to secure it," Battalion Chief Joel Gordon said, referring to the Broward County's hazardous materials team that initially secured the lines and TECO, a gas utility company.

"Whether that was the cause or not, we have not confirmed," he said.
News footage and social media video showed firefighters arriving at the mall. Windows were blown out of an LA Fitness. A section of the complex appeared to sustain significant damage, with shattered windows and scattered debris.

CNN video link below:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/06/us/florida-plantation-explosion/index.html

[MaryMagdaline]

1. So glad your family is safe

Heard the boom in Cooper City, 7 to 8 miles away.

[FM123]

2. Yes, I am grateful too, thank you.

(Wow, that must have been some explosion to hear in Cooper City, I am in Pembroke Pines so I heard nothing). I am watching the coverage on channel ten right now and it looks horrible!

[MaryMagdaline]

3. Everyone on neighbors site was posting "what was that?"

We thought it was a transformer. People in sunrise heard it as well. I thought a coconut hit my roof or amazon threw a package at the door.

Our office in plantation, 1/2 mile away lost no power.

[Historic NY]

4. Gas leaks just don't happen....

that was pretty massive. People were lucky, very lucky.

[FM123]

5. Yes, so lucky.

There was a pediatric dentist and a kid's computer coding school next to the explosion, thank goodness it was not open today and full of children!

[MaryMagdaline]

7. Yes, and a hospital down the street

[Ilsa]

6. This is west of Fort Lauderdale, SE Florida, FYI.

I don't know the names of all the counties or locations of all the cities in FL, etc the major ones.

[FM123]

8. Yes, Plantation is in the suburbs, just west of Ft. Lauderdale

I was "nervous typing" so I didn't include all the info when I first posted, sorry...

[Ilsa]

9. That's ok. I frequently add on these details

for folks like me who haven't travelled to so many new places.