The explosion occured across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre that damaged an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Miami.
The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping center (Photo: AFP)
At least 21 people were injured after a massive explosion from a suspected gas leak rocked through a shopping mall in Florida, according to the fire department, on Saturday.
The explosion occured across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre that damaged an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Miami.
One of the witnesses Jessi Walasheck said, “We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene,”
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“Two of the injured were in serious condition after the blast, one of whom had potentially life-threatening injuries”, Deputy fire chief Joel Gordon told AFP reporters.
“We found patients scattered all around the debris area,” he further said.
“But the injuries generally “are not as severe as what we thought they would be,” Walasheck added.
“As bad it was, it could have been a lot worse,” he said.
No one has been reported missing yet.
A major avenue running past the mall was shut down as a rescuer aided by a dog combed through the wreckage.
(With AFP inputs)
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