At least 3 including child die as horror explosion rocks neighbourhood in Dallas | World | News

At least three people, including a child, have died in a blast and the massive fire that followed at an apartment complex late on Thursday. The horror explosion rocked nearby homes in Dallas, and happened as firefighters were heading to the scene following a reported gas leak, according to officials.

Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson, Jason Evans, said five people were injured and taken to hospital. It is not clear at the moment how many residents lived in the two-story building in the Oak Cliff neighbourhood of the city.

Dallas Fire-Rescue deputy chief Mark Berry said: “We had the cavalry coming. But the explosion had already taken place.”

The fire is contained, but firefighters are still working on the scene to do primary searches, the fire service also said.

Resident Julie Jensen said she was at home, located less than a block from the burning building, when she heard a noise like an explosion that left her ears ringing.

“I was sitting on my couch watching TV — stuff flew off our walls,” she said.

Mrs Jensen said she saw rising smoke and neighbours running when she looked out the window.

She grabbed her family’s cat and left, finding a nearby car park to wait until she knew it was safe to return.

Another resident, Sal De La Rosa, who was at work at a nearby garage, said “all of a sudden, we just heard and felt this huge boom”.

The resident added: “We felt where the building kind of shook a little bit.” He said a co-worker went outside and saw thick, black smoke rising into the air.