A quiet Southern California neighborhood was rocked Sunday when a house exploded in Chino Hills, injuring eight people and prompting firefighters to evacuate 16 nearby homes.
According to The Associated Press, authorities have not yet determined what triggered the explosion, but firefighters said a gas leak at the scene has been shut off.
Images captured by witnesses showed the home completely flattened, reduced to a heap of splintered wood, shattered drywall, and twisted debris.
The Chino Valley Fire District said crews worked through the day to secure the area and search for any additional hazards.
“Crews will remain on scene to continue the overhaul and investigation,” the department posted online.
According to officials, four of the injured were taken from the destroyed home by emergency crews, while four others transported themselves to the hospital. Their conditions were not immediately released.
KABC-TV reported that people in the neighborhood saw residents fleeing the collapsed structure, including children who were crying out for help. The powerful blast damaged at least two nearby homes and prompted firefighters to evacuate more than a dozen others as a precaution.
Residents whose homes were not affected were later allowed back into the neighborhood as crews continued clearing debris and searching for clues.
The Southern California Gas Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chino Hills, a city of roughly 78,000 residents, sits about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
The investigation into the cause of the blast remains ongoing.
