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A dramatic home explosion in Hayward, California, was captured on a doorbell camera on Thursday (December 11). The blast, which occurred at 9:38 a.m., injured six people and destroyed three buildings, according to Alameda County fire officials. The explosion took place in the 800 block of Lewelling Boulevard, where a street construction project was underway.
The incident was triggered when a construction crew accidentally struck a gas line around 7:30 a.m. Although PG&E crews reportedly fixed the problem two hours later, the house exploded shortly after. The explosion sent debris flying into the air and was captured on video by Brittany and Christian Maldonado, who live across the street. "It was scary," Christian Maldonado said. "It was like a scene from Hollywood. It was unreal," he told KTVU.
The explosion obliterated at least one home, blew out windows, and shook nearby houses. Two of the injured were workers on the street, and all six victims were taken to Eden Medical Center, with three in serious condition. The National Transportation Safety Board, PG&E, and other agencies have launched investigations into the explosion.
A key question is why the area was not evacuated after the gas leak was detected. Alameda County Fire Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto explained that when crews arrived earlier, they did not detect any gas or reason for an emergency. PG&E had assured them the situation was under control, so the crews left. However, fire and explosion investigator Richard Meier criticized the response, saying, "It is the responsibility of the gas company to evacuate people in the event of a known leak."