Posted on 04/02/2005 10:36:29 PM PST by TexKat
15:24 AEDT Sun Apr 3 2005
A Perth unit block has been ripped apart by a gas explosion so strong it shattered windows and blew doors off other buildings within a 50-metre radius.
Two people have been taken to hospital, and their conditions were unknown, said a spokesman for Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
The blast had all but destroyed the block of eight units in Raymond Street at suburban Yokine about 6.25am (WST) on Sunday, he said.
"It's like a war zone. It's really quite incredible," the spokesman said.
"The central units where the explosion originated from are totally destroyed.
"Buildings within a 50-plus metre radius (of the unit block) have blast damage - broken windows, doors blown out and cars in the surrounding area have blast damage.
"We know there's two casualties and they have been removed to hospitals and their condition is unknown."
He said search and rescue teams had carried out a secondary sweep of the two storey-building where the blast occurred but had not found any other victims.
"They are confident no-one else remains in the building," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the street had been cordoned off and neighbours in adjoining blocks of units had been evacuated.
Crews from three fire stations and two specialty units were at the scene.
It was not known what had caused the explosion but authorities had shut off the natural gas line to ensure there was no chance of any further blasts.
The spokesman said the unit block - of four ground floor flats and four first storey flats - had sustained severe structural damage and would probably have to be demolished.
"There is also structural damage to other buildings," he said.
Engineers would need to inspect surrounding buildings to determine the level of damage they had sustained.
Nearby residents said the blast could be felt at least 500 metres away, and had shattered windows in houses directly surrounding the units.
Mario Tornatora said residents from several streets away emerged from their houses wondering what had happened.
"It sounded like a bomb going off. It was huge. It shook the bloody house. I actually jumped out of bed," Mr Tornatora said.
"I thought someone must have had an accident. I jumped in the car and went down to see if anybody was hurt."
Mr Tornatora said the ceiling panels had moved at a service station near the blast site, dropping dust into the service station.
"The attendant even had dust in his hair," he said.
Another resident Tony Holmes told ABC radio he was among the first on the scene and saw a man with his head sticking out of the rubble.
"When I walked up there you've got the bottom two sets of apartments completely collapsed and all the flats that adjoining it," he said.
"There was one old boy trapped with rubble on top of him and he was just moaning very softly.
"His head was sticking out of the rubble and from where I was you could see a few cuts on him."
A police spokeswoman said forensic officers were at the scene trying to determine what had happened.
She said officers were working to secure the premises and ensure it was safe before further investigations could take place.
"At this stage though, we don't know when that will be, it is a mess out here," the spokeswoman said.
Property manager Deneise Burke, from real estate agent Darrell Crouch and Associates, said the explosion happened in unit 10, the central flat on the bottom floor of the complex.
"We are not worried about the units as such. We are far more worried about the people inside," she said.
Ms Burke said the 24-unit complex, which were all owned by one person, had been fitted with new gas pipes and gas meters less than six months ago.
The tenants, many of whom were elderly, were shaken and shocked by the incident.
Ms Burke said it was not apparent yet what would happen to the units but all tenants had been re-accommodated.
"We have to wait as long as it takes for a structural report to see if they are to be condemned but in the meantime, we have been working to rehouse all the tenants, that has been our main priority."
Comment was being sought from West Australian gas utility Alinta Gas.
The brick-and-tile unit block is understood to have been built in the 1970s.
Blast shatters Perth unit block ping.
The bomb squad has been called in to help investigate the cause of a massive explosion at a block of units in Perth.
Seven people have been admitted to hospital and at least one is in a critical condition.
The explosion was so powerful the walls of up to four units collapsed, and roof tiles and windows were damaged in neighbouring houses.
The blast, believed to have been caused by a gas leak, occurred just before 6:30am AWST at units in Raymond Street, Yokine.
Yokine resident Tony Holmes was one of the first on the scene.
"When I walked up there, you've got the bottom two sets of apartments completely collapsed and all the flats that adjoining it, all the windows blown out there," he said.
"There was one old boy trapped with rubble on top of him and he was just moaning very softly and that and his head was sticking out of the rubble."
This reads the same as the Russian apartment houses that the terrorists keep blowing up.
Thanks for the ping.
I have a pen pal in Perth, I hope she is ok?
i have family in Perth!
i emailed the link but haven't heard back yet.
i'm calling this am too for other reasons - will inform
My Friend is in Shelley, is that near this blast?
I'm not so sure exactly where the blast was, other than "Perth", which is a city of millions spread out over an area larger than Atlanta and LA combined!
Terrorists???
My Dad says it was nowhere near him - he didn't even know about it.
Where is Shelley? A suburb of Perth? My fam is in Cottesloe and Mt. Clairmont...(both suburbs of Perth)
I think Shelley is south of the city proper, it is on the Swan river, nice neighborhood
know anyone from Eagle Bay?
How about Porpoise Spit? :)
Sounds like Fremantle...
Cottesloe is on the water north of Peppermint Grove a tad, same with Mt. Clairemont but it is "norther"...
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