BOSTON (Reuters) – Dozens of explosions and fires rocked a wide area across several communities north of Boston on Thursday, prompting evacuations of numerous neighborhoods where gas odors were present, Massachusetts state police reported.
A building burns after explosions in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States in this September 13, 2018 photo from social media by Boston Sparks. Boston Sparks/Social Media/via REUTERS
No casualties were officially reported, but the Eagle Tribune newspaper said on its website that there were an unspecified number of injuries when one house exploded in the town of Lawrence.
Authorities said nothing to indicate any foul play was suspected.
State police bulletins on Twitter said it was too soon to speculate about a cause, but local media reports cited the possible rupture of a gas line. The first explosion was triggered by an overpressurized gas line, WBZ News reported.
Live television images showed firefighters on high ladders, battling flames engulfing low-slung houses in Lawrence and North Andover, former mill towns about 25 miles (40 km) north of Boston. The adjacent town of Andover was also involved.
State police put the tally of fires and explosions at 39 and said that number was expected to grow.
“We are asking everybody with gas in their homes to leave their homes until further notice,” North Andover town manager Andrew Maylor told one local television station.
Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera told WBZ: “What we know is that there are have been multiple explosions, multiple fires that are happening across the city.” He said residents detecting strange odors should leave their homes.
State police urged residents served by the Columbia Gas company, a unit of NiSource Inc (NI.N), to evacuate their homes, saying the utility was cutting pressure to its lines and that it would take “some time” to shut off all service.
Reporting by Scott Malone; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Rosalba O’Brien